6 Best Pottery Classes in Melbourne That’ll Unleash Your Inner Artist
I signed up for my first pottery class in Melbourne, thinking it would just be a relaxing weekend activity. A few hours in, I was completely hooked.
The city’s pottery scene turned out to be bigger and more creative than I expected. From cozy creative spaces to professional ceramic workshops, there’s a class for every skill level.
But with so many options, choosing the right studio can be tricky. Prices, teaching styles, and class formats vary a lot.
So I explored pottery studios and compared what they offer. And in this guide, I am sharing the best pottery classes that stood out for their teaching and overall experience.
How much do pottery classes cost in Melbourne?
Pottery classes in Melbourne typically cost around $60 to $90 per session for casual workshops or beginner classes. Multi-week courses usually range from $250 to $600, depending on the studio, materials included, and class duration.
Private sessions or specialised workshops can cost more.
1. SaJo Ceramics
Address: 11 Lillypilly Lane, Kilsyth South VIC 3137
Contact details: 0488 003 910
Business hours:
- Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 8:00 PM
- Thursday: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Friday: 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
SaJo Ceramics Studio & Pottery Supplies is a pottery studio located in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges, offering a relaxed, nature-adjacent setting for learning ceramics. It combines structured classes with open studio access and a retail space for pottery supplies.
Their pottery classes are centered around hands-on clay work, with a strong emphasis on wheel throwing and foundational techniques. Beginners are supported through guided sessions that focus on practical skill-building rather than theory-heavy instruction.
One of the most accessible entry points is their “Taster” pottery class, designed for people who want a short introduction to the wheel. It provides a low-pressure environment where participants can experience shaping clay and producing simple forms.
For those wanting a more structured learning path, the multi-week throwing course offers progressive instruction across several sessions. This format helps students move from basic cylinder shapes to more refined vessels while learning glazing and finishing.
Beyond beginner learning, SaJo also accommodates returning potters who want flexible studio time. These casual sessions allow more experienced makers to practice independently while still having access to studio equipment and firing services.
The studio is well-equipped with professional tools including pottery wheels, slab rollers, extruders, and a wide selection of glazes. This setup makes it suitable not just for learning but also for ongoing creative production.
SaJo is also connected to a broader ceramics ecosystem through its supplies store and sister studio, which produces bespoke ceramic pieces. This combination of education, materials, and production makes it a comprehensive hub for ceramic enthusiasts.
Sarah was awesome, ever so patient and encouraging.
“Awesome experience. We did the Wheel taster class. Sarah was awesome, ever so patient and encouraging. Lots of fun to make my own pottery and certainly has new found appreciation to handmade pottery. Love it.”
– Sam C Gan, Google Review
Such a great place to learn and have fun!
“Such a great place to learn and have fun! The teachers are all lovely and patient. You can use the wheel or hand build and can go casually, which was great for me. I booked a four class trial and am still going 4 years later.”
– Nicole Teakel, Google Review
2. The Kiln Room
Location: 10 Boileau St, Keysborough VIC 3173, Australia
Contact Details: 0431 332 934
Business Hours:
- Tuesdays and Fridays: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Other days/times: Available by appointment
The Kiln Room is an artist-run ceramics studio offering specialist workshops, firing services, and studio access for pottery enthusiasts and practicing ceramic artists. With a strong foundation in technical knowledge and hands-on practice, the studio supports both creative exploration and reliable, high-quality ceramic firing outcomes.
Rather than focusing on a single technique, The Kiln Room provides a broad range of firing services across different styles and temperatures. These include stoneware reduction firings, saggar firings, and raku firings with participant involvement, alongside access to studio facilities for independent ceramic work. A key strength of the studio is its ability to deliver consistent results with a fast turnaround across multiple firing processes.
The studio also runs specialist workshops throughout the year, including sessions led by visiting artists. These workshops allow participants to gain insight into different approaches to ceramics while benefiting from the expertise of experienced practitioners working across varied firing methods.
A defining feature of The Kiln Room is its emphasis on practical, hands-on learning. Participants are encouraged to engage directly with the process, testing ideas and developing their understanding of materials and surface effects in a supportive studio environment.
Through its partnership with Studio Nioka, The Kiln Room further expands its firing capabilities to include raku firing, pit firing, and wood firing. This collaboration enhances the range of traditional and atmospheric firing techniques available to artists working with the studio.
Workshops are structured to accommodate both hobbyists and experienced ceramic makers. While participants are provided with essential materials and allocated workspace, they are also encouraged to bring additional pieces for experimentation and development.
With limited group sizes, the studio maintains a focused and interactive learning environment. This allows for closer guidance, meaningful discussion, and greater technical insight throughout each session.
Overall, The Kiln Room is best positioned as a specialist ceramics studio combining technical expertise, artist-led teaching, and a diverse range of firing services. Its fast turnaround, visiting artist workshops, and expanded collaboration with Studio Nioka make it a strong option for ceramic artists seeking both reliability and creative development.
Great price too, and such a warm, welcoming vibe.
“Tania was amazing – super accurate with all my pottery pieces, and the firing was done perfectly! Great price too, and such a warm, welcoming vibe. So happy with the results. Thank you – people love the work, and I couldn’t have done it without you!”
– MOJO Sasha S, Google Review
Excellent service & ambience.
“Outstanding food. Good wine list (eg Glaetzer Dixon Uber Riesling etc). Excellent service & ambience. Garden to relax in. And the kiln building itself is fascinating and well restored to heritage standards; suggest go right inside the old kiln to really get the full impact. Small amounts of made-on-site single malt & various aromatic gins. At table, their citrus gin & tonic with Tasmanian pepper berry is a standout.”
– Gillian Biscoe, Google Review
3. Terrapotter Studios
Address: 405 St Kilda Road
Contact details: [email protected]
Business hours:
- Tuesday: 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
- Saturday & Sunday: 10 AM – 6 PM
If you’ve ever wanted to try using a pottery wheel for the first time, Terrapotter Studios is a great place to begin. Their classes focus on real skill-building in a calm, supportive environment.
Designed for beginners who want a true hands-on experience, their Introduction to Wheel Throwing class is a two-hour guided session that teaches the fundamentals of shaping clay on the wheel.
Your only focus is on creating your piece while their team handles trimming, glazing, and firing. You just have to wait for 6-8 weeks before you can pick up your finished food-safe pot.
What students appreciate most is Terrapotter’s structured teaching approach. Classes are designed by qualified instructors and guided by a clear learning progression.
If you want to develop your skills further, they even offer 4- and 7-week term courses that guide you through the full pottery process from throwing to glazing.
They also have a hand-building course, which we find interesting as it incorporates breathwork and mindfulness elements for a more relaxed experience.
But one thing to keep in mind is that beginners who just want a quick, relaxed “sip-and-create” style session might find the learning format more intensive than expected.
Great teachers and very talented on the wheel
“Terrapotter is such an awesome studio! I did a 7 week term with Nyssa and Lily and absolutely loved it, they were such great teachers and very talented on the wheel. It was such a nice way to unwind after work and as a beginner I came home with 12 pieces. Thank you so so much and I’ll definitely be back for another term soon!!”
– Ellie Burton, Google Review
The venue creates a perfect atmosphere for creativity and learning
“I recently attended the two-hour Introductory to Pottery class at TerraPotter and had a fantastic experience. Cassie was incredibly friendly and provided clear instructions, always being on hand to assist throughout the session. The venue itself creates a perfect atmosphere for creativity and learning. I highly recommend this class to anyone wanting to try pottery for the first time!”
– Jana Perera, Google Review
4. ClassBento
Address: 31 Queen St
Contact details: +61 488 839 505
Business hours: Monday to Sunday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
ClassBento is not a single studio but a platform that connects you to dozens of local pottery workshops across Melbourne.
Instead of offering a single class style, they give you 150+ pottery experiences around the city. You can choose from wheel throwing, hand-building, ceramic painting, or even Japanese kintsugi repair.
Classes are beginner-friendly and guided by local ceramic artists, and we find the pricing to be flexible.
They also offer a money-back guarantee if the session doesn’t meet your expectations. That extra reassurance makes trying something new feel less risky.
A potential downside is that because ClassBento isn’t a single studio, the experience can vary depending on the instructor or partner workshop you choose. The space is also shared by other classes, so expect that it can get quite noisy and chaotic.
We’ll be returning for more sessions in future without a doubt
“Highly recommend the hand building pottery class with Rachael! She delivered an engaging and intimate session that encouraged even the lesser creatives (me) to find their spark and create something special! Can’t wait to pick up in a few weeks time and see the finished product. We’ll be returning for more sessions in future without a doubt.”
– Emily Petersen, Google Review
I love the pottery class
“Bento Classes are great for experiencing new things. It has helped connect me with a studio to turn my curiosity into a hobby! I love the Pottery class, and it would have been so hard to find otherwise! Thank you, ClassBento, for providing an excellent platform!”
– Laura C, Google Review
5. The Wheelhouse Pottery Studio
Address: 174 Gladstone St, South Melbourne VIC 3205
Contact details: +61 428 138 894
Business hours: Not Available
When I was searching for pottery classes I could enrol in, The Wheelhouse Pottery Studio quickly became one of my top choices.
The studio runs both wheel-throwing and hand-building classes for all skill levels. You can start with a short taster session or commit to structured 4- to 8-week courses.
Their taster sessions run for 2.5-hour masterclasses, making them perfect if you want to try pottery without a long-term commitment. We think that it’s a smart way to experience the process before joining weekly classes.
All sessions already include quality tools, clay, and firing services, so you can focus entirely on creating. Many students also highlight the supportive teaching style and the well-equipped facilities.
They make sure that beginners learn essential techniques like centring clay and shaping their first pieces on the wheel. This allows students to develop their own artistic style rather than simply following set designs.
One possible drawback is that they’re in high demand, so they get booked out pretty quickly.
Dean is an excellent teacher
“I’m on my second four week course of wheel throwing with Dean and I’ll probably enrol again. Dean is an excellent teacher and shares his love of creating with clay. The instruction was excellent and I was happy to make five pieces in my first run. The glazes Dean makes are excellent and beautiful to use. I was so happy with my finished pieces that I immediately enrolled again. Second day of the second course and we threw plates. And everyone successfully made plates even if it was only their second go on the wheel. The studio is a beautiful open well lit space. I look forward to it every week. Thanks Dean and The Wheelhouse”
– Pete Goodlet, Google Review
It’s a rewarding experience and is highly recommended
“My friend and I had a fun date playing and making cute art pieces at The Wheelhouse Studio. Thank you Dean and your team for your patience and for creating this beautiful space for us to try and to learn new skills. It’s a rewarding experience, and is highly recommended.”
– Hao Dao, Google Review
6. Sarah Schembri Ceramics
Address: 10 Kent Street, Fitzroy Victoria 3065
Contact details: +61 414 377 397
Business hours: Not Available
Sarah Schembi Ceramics is a good place to stumble into when you want a pottery class that feels a little more art studio than a casual weekend hobby.
The studio itself is thoughtfully designed for comfort and accessibility. It’s wheelchair-friendly, climate-controlled, and includes welcoming touches like complimentary drinks.
Classes run inside a light-filled studio in Fitzroy, led by renowned ceramicist Sara Schembri, which means you’ll learn in a professional space equipped with 15 high-quality pottery wheels, tools, and kilns.
The options they offer really depend on your goal. You can try beginner wheel throwing and hand-building workshops, or even more advanced term courses.
If you want to bring in your friends or workmates, the studio offers private group workshops for team-building or social events, which can be booked for a full creative experience.
However, just note that it could get quite costly compared to standard community studios.
The structure of the class is so laid back and relaxing
“This class was awesome! It was so cool getting to use the clay wheel and having the freedom to use as much clay as I needed. The structure of the class is so laid back and relaxing and the graze board was just the perfect touch. Sarah has such a love for what she does and her energy was contagious. I recommend this highly for a date night”
– Kasey Montassi, Google Review
Sarah’s teaching style is warm and encouraging
“Recently did Sarah Schembri’s Wheel and Unwind session and had such a great time! The space was super welcoming and relaxed, and Sarah and her team made it really easy to enjoy the process, even as a beginner. Sarah’s teaching style is warm and encouraging, and you feel comfortable learning at your own pace. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun and unique experience!”
– Magma Y, Google Review