About Pilliga Pottery

Pilliga Pottery Creative Farmstay is a family-owned business. Maria Rickert, the founder, manages the business with her family partners Johannes, Regina and Bernhard. They are assisted by Julie the former in-house governess and most gifted artist as well as several loyal team members who assist in running the shop and the café.

We’ve come a long way with this farm and our pottery. But we still see so much potential in it. Our dream is to see this place as an enduring inspiration to others for many generations to come. People have lost something in this modern world and we see our place as a monument to the fact that life doesn’t have to be all about money, material things or wearing the right clothes. This place is about caring, working for the love of it, expressing yourself through creativity and working with nature rather than against it.

Hearth

A hearth is at the centre of any welcoming home. That’s what we’ve built here in the Pilliga – a gathering place where you and your loved ones can relax, explore, and enjoy the wonders of the Australian bush. No matter what adventure you decide to embark on, let us be the home you can return to.

History

Pilliga Pottery was established in 1985 when Maria and Richard Rickert moved here with their young family. Over the years we have transformed this humble plot of land into a pottery, cafe, and creative farmstay with the help of family, friends, and volunteers. Today Maria, her sons Bernhard and Johannes and her daughter in law Regina manage the business. There are always around 15 people living on site and several workers from town come in to work here.

Hospitality

We aim to give each one of our guests a warm welcome and inspire you to enjoy our place to its full potential. Our facilities may not resemble a luxury resort, but we hope you will enjoy our rustic comforts, hearty meals, communal atmosphere and creative living spaces. Kimi our long term Chef is an excellent Barista and cook. She is known for spreading her love through delicious food, new flavours and little treats throughout the day, and for her sunny smile!

OUR BARKALA ENVIRONMENT

Pilliga Pottery is built on green energy

Pilliga Pottery Creative Farmstay is an operating farm with native and domestic animals, dams, fences and creeks surrounding the property. We are 100% off-grid with our own water supply, solar system, septic system, rubbish removal and deliveries. We are truly self-sufficient out of necessity, our belief in a greener future and our can do attitude. We’d like to invite you to take part in our mission for sustainable living and stay with us. You can help us and learn during your stay by observing and following our way of life.

The reward is a greener future for everyone.

Solar Power

In 2012 we installed a 27kw solar system, 3 battery banks, and a solar powered air conditioned battery shed with a generator back up. This system even enables us to run 3 phase machinery during the day. So many years later our farm stay has grown incredibly and our solar system will have to grow with us soon. We are short on power and always try to conserve energy where we can. Simple practices like switching off unused lights, air conditioners, pumps and other electrical devices help save our power for when we really need it. We run our pottery kiln and many kitchen appliances on LPG gas.

Water

Water is the essence of life and mother nature gives it to us for free! We have invested in many rainwater tanks over the years and can store 700000 litres of rain water on site today. That may sound a lot but even so we are careful with our water, during a long dry spell each drop counts, because there won’t be more till it rains! We also have a well and a bore water supply which we use to flush the toilets, fill the pool and water the gardens.

Recycle system

Rubbish is a big part of managing our farm stay. We go through every bit of trash and put it in the right bin to reduce waste. Once full every bin needs to be carted into town to the tip - no council rubbish service out here! We ask you to help us with our mission. As a day guest, please don’t bring rubbish with you. If you are staying with us please pay attention to the bins provided in the accommodations. Don’t bring unnecessary single use items and soft plastic for your stay. Take your rubbish home with you if you are camping. Thank you!

Ready to Visit?

Meet the Pottery Family

  • Maria, Founder

    I was born in Germany on a dairy farm. When I was 26, I travelled for the first time to Australia. I was amazed to see the red colour of the earth, the blue sky and the uncompromised lifestyle. At the foot of Warrumbungle Mountains I found my home. So I bought this property to live my dream in the outback and raise my three children.

  • Johannes

    I am the oldest son of Maria and Richard. Ever since I was a little kid I learned many skills to satisfy my inquisitive nature. Skills like leather work, metalwork, mechanical work, working with animals and surviving in the bush became second nature to me. After few years traveling and experience new things, I never found a better place to be myself and start a family.

  • Bernhard

    I am the second son and the Jack of all trades. I’m an expert in building with natural materials: straw bale, mud brick or timber work. My first project was renovating the Eagle Valley Cottage and in 2014 I bought the historical Royal Hotel in Coonabarabran, the most exciting building project to work on so far.

  • Julie

    I arrived in the 1990s as a governess to assist in teaching the children. I was lucky to be raised in a family with a great appreciation for nature. Family bushwalking, camping, and canoeing trips taught me to look more closely at things. With National Geographic, I developed a real passion for the designs and symbolism of the ancient world. I am the artistic face of Pilliga Pottery and I am constantly faced with fresh creative challenges.

  • Regina

    I was born in a small village in Bavaria (Germany) on a dairy farm, as one out of five girls. Back in 2008, I wanted to travel for three months to see more of the World. I met Johannes in the Australian bush and decided to stay on. Now we have two beautiful children together, Johann and Leonhard. Today, I help manage the business full time.

  • Kimi

    I came here from Taiwan in 2012 to fulfill farmwork for my visa. I loved the stars in the sky and have not been able to leave them behind. I have developed great skills in the cafe kitchen and learned to cook German/Bavarian cuisine. You can find me in the kitchen, by the pizza oven or behind the coffee machine making your coffee and delicious meals. I have also learned skills in the pottery as a glazer.

  • Joel

    I arrived in 2020 and have since worked in the Pottery as a Junior Potter. My first ever pottery lesson was with my dad, and I went into this trade as a hobby and to learn more skills. I teach many of the classes that we offer and you can often find me teaching on the pottery wheel. I was attracted to Pilliga Pottery for the opportunities to learn but also because I love the beautiful nature.

  • Eva

    Bio coming soon :)