Celebrated Mount Gambier potter, Trevor Pitt, inspires Resthaven community

Bearing striking images, colours and patterns, the kiln-fired pots and vases of Resthaven Mount Gambier resident, Mr Trevor Pitt, are nothing short of works of art.

Reflecting the sometimes-harsh Australian landscape and vivid colours of South Australia, Trevor developed his own techniques to make the pots, sealing them with glaze on the inside, then dry glazing on the outside. He then adds colours with porcelain slip, oxides, ceramic stains or gold lustre – applying the colour with air brush or paint brush techniques. The results are stunning cascade and strata effects that replicate natural landscapes.

‘My pottery journey started while I was working as an art teacher at Henley High School,’ Trevor says.

‘I started going to art school once a week with a friend, and I completed a three-year Diploma of Pottery. Milton Moon (AM, a renowned potter) was my third-year teacher.’

Trevor received a High Distinction for his end-of-year pottery exam.  He founded the Adelaide Pottery Club and the Henley and Grange Art Society before going on to work as a senior art schoolteacher in South Australia’s Southeast.

‘I worked at Grant High School, Millicent, and visited many regional schools in the area, travelling between Keith, Bordertown, Mount Gambier and Naracoorte as an art advisor,’ Trevor says.

When the State Bank collapsed in 1991 and the economy declined, Trevor was among those who were made redundant. At the age of 55, he and his wife, Joan, started a pottery business, The Claypitt, at their 10-acre property on Cafpirco Road, Mount Gambier.

Trevor built a kiln on the property and even made a pottery wheel from an old car wheel and cement. He would fire the pots, which he marked and decorated, at 1,300 degrees Celsius. He began selling these at local markets in Mount Gambier, but after a time, he began travelling further afield, selling them at markets all around Australia.

His art was well-received, and it wasn’t long before his wares were being sold in outlets in most cities, including Uluru and Magnetic Island. His pots have been purchased by people living all around the world.

‘One of my favourite collections was the Australian Pottery Range,’ Trevor says. ‘It includes pots in different colour schemes: Citrus-Tangerine, Red Centre, Autumn Leaves and Blue Sky. Blue Sky was inspired by Mount Gambier’s Blue Lake.’

Trevor has also created glazes for his pots using rocks from Mount Schank.

‘I enjoyed every part of my pottery journey,’ Trevor says.

Trevor’s work now adorns his room, as well as those of fellow residents who admire his art. Recently, he shared his talents with visiting kindergarten children who were working with play doh. They were very impressed to imagine how their own works might one day become international works of art.

Thank you for sharing your story, Trevor! We are thrilled to have such artworks and a renowned artist at Resthaven Mount Gambier.