Pottery works.
James King arrived in Sydney in 1827 from Scotland where he had studied glass making and chemistry. He settled on the banks of the Williams River with a 2,000 acre land grant and despite having no experience in pottery making decided to set up a pottery producing cheap good domestic earthenware – Irrawang Pottery. Before this date there is no evidence that any other potters were working in the Hunter Valley.
King’s decision was deliberate as he was aware that sheep farming alone was too uncertain due to drought, flood and fire. As an additional product he grew grapes for the production of quality wines. Despite his business interests he made most of his money through land speculation and died a wealthy man. The pottery did extremely well for 15 years, despite being closed for six years between 1838 and 1844. However in the goldrush year of 1851 the local labour force declined substantially and the pottery disappeared as suddenly as it began.
There are a range of part structures remaining on the site, such as kilns and workshops. In 1976 a major excavation was carried out prior to the filling of Grahamstown Dam with the finds removed to the University of Sydney’s Archaeology Department. Selected exhibits are displayed in the Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, Sydney and in the University of Sydney’s Macleay Museum.