Sydney’s funnest clay studio is coming home to Wollongong

Images Georgia Matt

Clay Sydney founder, Hannah Barclay, is set to open a new pottery studio in Wollongong on June 24, bringing the joy of simple, social creativity to the Illawarra. Hannah founded Clay Sydney in early 2019 – offering the opportunity for first-time potters to drink wine, eat cheese and get muddy. 

Originally a single studio business, Clay Sydney has grown to include two more locations in Sydney’s Inner West, dedicated to both hand-building and wheel throwing classes and studio spaces hired to some of Sydney’s most well-established ceramic artists.

Having called the Illawarra home since 2016, National Art School alumni Hannah has now shifted her focus to Wollongong. Set to open to its first students on June 24, the new studio will offer a suite of classes including the immensely popular ‘Wine and Clay’ and for clay enthusiasts, longer courses of four and six weeks.

“Clay Sydney grew so rapidly since we opened, it feels like a natural step to bring what has been enjoyed by so many people in Sydney to Wollongong” Hannah says. “What we offer is quite unique – you don’t need any experience, we train our teachers to take you through step by step and we want to ensure that people feel like they’re really getting something out of it.

“We also like to make sure we keep it fun – we’ve helped so many people celebrate their hens parties, work functions and birthdays so it’s a pretty perfect group activity.”

Two hours taster class students have a chance to learn the basics of either hand-building or wheel throwing with classes prices including glazing and firing, meaning students get to keep the piece that they make.

Hannah aims to continue evolving what she has created in Sydney, to develop a creative space that is uniquely Wollongong. “We are opening our classes in late June following our first renovation of the space, but we have plans to develop a creative hub that will allow us to showcase some of the wonderful talent in the NSW South Coast.” Hannah says.

For more and to book, go to www.claywollongong.com