Courtland Pottery

Statement of Significance

• The site has historic value for its association with the Courtland family who were important to the development of wheel thrown pottery techniques and production in Western Australia.
• The site has value for the members of the community who visited or worked at the site at its prominent location in Belmont.
• The site has value as the previous use was an example of early development of industry in Belmont.

Physical Description

There is no evidence of the former factory on the site.

History

In 1903 Charles Richard Courtland, in partnership with Sam Pedersen, set up the pottery place in Belmont. Pederson was compelled to withdraw in 1911, due to skin problems caused by the clay. The local Belmont clay was used for glazed earthenware and terra-cotta ware. However, clay for the salt glazed ware came from Campbellfield in Victoria. The local clays, at that time, were considered unsuitable by industries for vitrified products at a salt glazing temperature.

In 1906, Chas Courtland won a medal at a Trades Exhibition with his earthenware. This earthenware often included ‘art wares’ with press moulded relief figures and applied ornamental decoration.

The wares from this pottery were equal to any found in Australia, but much smaller in amounts, as it was only geared for two throwers producing wares. Salt glazed stoneware was fired in a large round down draft kiln, fuelled with coal from Newcastle , because W.A. coal produced too much ash. More of these kilns were built at a later stage, one of which with an inside diameter of 22 feet (6.7 metres). The bricks used in the construction of these dome-like kilns were all laid without the aid of form work and the mortar used was fire clay.

When the First World War came, Charles Grenville Courtland went to war and when he returned he and his father continued the business until 1942. When the Japanese bombed Darwin most of the men at the Pottery works enlisted and Courtland’s was closed down for two years. After the Second World War, Grenville, the third generation of Courtland’s joined the firm and subsequently took over the management of the business.

The factory continued manufacturing on this site until 1995 and the buildings demolished in 1996.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: N/A
Authenticity: N/A

Condition

N/A

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

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This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.