Nestled among Magill’s leafy suburban streets is one of South Australia’s longest-running family-run businesses, and the nation’s only remaining traditional pottery manufacturer — Bennetts Magill Pottery.
John Bennett is the fifth-generation potter at Bennetts which was established by his great-great-grandfather, Charles William Bennett, in 1887.
Pottery was something John grew up with. When he wasn’t at school, John would be at the factory watching the potters at work – so it was a natural progression to go from school into the family business.
For more than a century, Bennetts has been manufacturing handmade terracotta garden pottery and building products, and John says they will have a go at most things customers ask them to make.
Being manufacturers gives Bennetts the ability to make bespoke pieces such as large garden planters and glazed stoneware including casserole dishes, tagines, coffee mugs and tapas dishes. His most popular products are terracotta bird baths and bird feeders, which he supplies to garden centres around the country.
While the influx of nationwide hardware stores has decreased Bennetts’ market by half in the last 10 years, John has boosted the business by processing clay sourced from the Adelaide Hills for big smelting companies. John is also commissioned by various South Australian restaurants and wineries for his distinctive stoneware crockery, and customers can still buy direct from its original site in Magill.
Find out more about this South Australian business with a rich history in this week’s member profile video:
