5 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. Artea – Art School & Party Venue
Address: Roxy’s Functions & Events, 2 Alfred Pl
Contact details: +61 39041 9090
Business hours: Monday to Sunday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
A close friend enrolled her daughter in a workshop at Artea, and she ended up booking a session for herself the following week.
It was because of Prosecco and Pottery Workshop, one of their most popular offerings, where you learn clay hand-building techniques while enjoying a complimentary glass of Prosecco.
Here, you’ll work with a large lump of Northcote stoneware clay, complete pottery tools, and a variety of decorating elements, including coloured clay to personalise your piece.
There’s also plenty of creative freedom, so you can make a bowl, plate, sculpture, or anything that inspires you.
What we love about Artea is that it’s basically designed for groups, team-building sessions, or celebrations in a chic warehouse-style studio. Some sessions even offer different cocktails and catering options for special events.
At the end of the workshop, you’ll take your creation home in a take-home box, ready to air-dry or paint later. It’s a simple but rewarding way to continue the experience beyond the class.
That said, if you’re looking for advanced techniques, the workshop may feel more recreational. The classes here lean toward a social sip-and-create experience rather than in-depth training.
The place is safe, welcoming, and truly brings out their creativity
“My grandsons attended the ARTea school holiday program yesterday and I was so impressed. They came home bubbling with excitement, proudly showing us the beautiful art they had created. As a grandparent, it means so much to see them in a place that is safe, welcoming and truly brings out their creativity. The staff were kind and attentive, and it’s clear they really care about the children. Such a wonderful experience – we’ll definitely be booking them in again next holidays”
– Bernie Pennington, Google Review
We highly value the art education that our son gets at Artea
“As an architect, and with an artist as a wife, we highly value the art education that our son gets at Artea. He has been attending weekly lessons and the holiday program for three years. He learns all mediums of art and most importantly has an awesome fun time!”
– Craig, Google Review
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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