‘Dismissed with the stroke of a pen’: Popular Unley community club kilned from development, faces eviction

A popular community club in Adelaide’s eastern suburbs is facing eviction – and possible closure – after council scrapped it without warning from its plans.

The eastern suburbs could soon lose the oldest pottery club in the country after it was shunted from future plans for its home.

Adelaide Potters’ Club has taught and exhibited pottery from its premises at the council-owned Edmund Ave cottages since 2001 and has been part of the Unley community even longer.

But president Alison Arnold said the 75-year-old club was now facing eviction from the strip of buildings after Unley Council made changes to redevelopment plans for three of the cottages, which include the premises it leases.

Under longstanding plans, the site was to be revamped to include an expanded Unley Museum and the pottery club.

Ms Arnold said the club had been part of the process since the beginning but in August “out of nowhere”, members were informed there would be no room for them after council decided to use the site for the museum instead.

Alison Arnold at Adelaide Potters' Club in Unley SA. Picture: Ben Clark

She said if council refused to reverse its decision and the club could not find another premises, it risked closure.

“We were really surprised by that because we have run a gallery very, very efficiently and very well,” she said.

“We do feel that we’ve been dismissed with the stroke of a pen and that the councillors don’t understand what they’re losing.”

A council spokesman said they were exploring the expansion of the Unley Museum and decided to incorporate the premises leased to the club “to fully realise the potential of this site”.

The spokesman said while the redevelopment of the museum will require the club to move, construction was “some way off ” and the project still required grant funding, meaning there was no immediate need for the club to vacate.

“Council acknowledges the Adelaide Potters’ Club’s long history and significant contribution to the community and is committed to supporting the club by exploring potential alternative sites within Unley,” the spokesman said.

“While we would like the club to remain in the area if possible, we appreciate that they may wish to consider alternate sites in other council areas too.”

Tarsha Dickenson, Alison Arnold Jan Twyerould and Jade Cheshire at Adelaide Potters' Club in Unley SA. Picture: Ben Clark

The club’s lease for its current premises expires next year but Ms Arnold said even if the club was not evicted right away, its future remains uncertain.

She said the club was considering moving to another council area but emphasised it would need to find a premises that would be leased to them below the commercial rate.

“We’re completely self-funded and completely voluntary,” she said.

She urged locals to lobby council to reverse its decision and said the club would present its case at this month’s council meeting.

“We’ve been associated with Unley Council for 68 years, so it would be a terrible loss for the community,” Ms Arnold said.

Originally published as ‘Dismissed with the stroke of a pen’: Popular Unley community club kilned from development, faces eviction