The Group started life as the Taradale Pottery Group back in March 1966 at the rear of the BNZ in Taradale. In September of the same year they moved to an old house in Puketapu Rd where Mrs Hillary Thurston and Bob Huck conducted the first lessons. It wasn‟t until 1972 that the potters moved to a new clubrooms in the old Council Chambers in Lee Rd. In October 1980 they were on the move again establishing themselves in the old “St Mary‟s” Catholic church in Meeanee Rd. There a lively group gathered and many exhibitions and workshops were held, with numerous visiting tutors such as Len Castle, Mirek Smizek, and John Parker. Local potters such as Chloe King, Bruce Martin and Penny Madden and others have also been enthusiastic about sharing their skills with us. The Groups‟ sales days on public holiday weekends in the 1970‟s and 1980‟s attracted large crowds and are still talked about today. Some potters from the Group also worked at Para Matchitt‟s and Jacob Scott‟s „stables‟ complex on Otatara at the back of the Eastern Institute of Technology. Here these potters built and operated several excellent kilns. In 2001 the old St Mary‟s Church was sold and the Group moved to a large space at the former Waiohiki Dairy Factory. Picture 540Group members created a gallery and sales space as well as a functional work area. In 2005 it was decided to build a substantial wood fire kiln. John Gisborne and Hooly Thin designed and built the kiln with the help of other Group members. Advice was sourced from Mike O‟Donnell, Barry Brickell and other kiln builders. Bricks, shelves and props were donated by Group members and, after an appropriate tapu lifting ceremony, material was also taken from the Otatara stables complex when it was demolished. A committee has been established to run the kiln and has since been fired on a regular basis. Taradale Pottery Group runs night classes and holds workshops throughout the year
