Terrapotter Studios

"I never imagined I’d leave a lab for a pottery wheel, but here we are."

After spending years in the world of biomedical science, Cassandra Tan found herself feeling drained, disconnected, and in desperate need of a change.

"I felt really burnt out and needed to do something different from the monotony of lab life," Cassandra recalls. Pottery offered the perfect escape—something tactile, creative, and grounding.

What began as a hobby soon became her passion. “Six months in, I knew I couldn’t go back,” she says. She left her secure role and by chance (or fate), the pottery studio where she had been learning was hiring.

At first, the job was just a way to make ends meet - Cassandra did everything from cleaning floors to helping with studio tasks. But within three years, she went from beginner to teaching classes to studio manager.

By 2021, Cassandra knew it was time to start her own business.

Terrapotter Studios opened in South Melbourne in 2022. What began as a small venture became so popular that by 2024 Cassandra had outgrown her South Melbourne premises.

“I had to decide whether to renovate or expand, and then this space on Victoria Street became available,” she says. Cassandra stripped back the former site of Artisan’s Bottega, with natural light flooding through the front windows to reflect off the rows of pottery wheels.

The atmosphere at Terrapotter Studios is warm, inviting, and supportive, with a team of passionate pottery teachers who share Cassandra’s vision.

“Our team is what sets us apart,” she says proudly. “We all have creative practices in pottery, and I visit South Korea every year to learn from a Korean Living National Treasure potter. Also, we all work full-time at Terrapotter, which is unusual in an industry where most teachers are casuals. I’ve deliberately chosen to hire full-timers because I want to support our staff to make a living from their craft and expertise.”

While Terrapotter specialises in wheel throwing tuition, Cassandra and her small team also teach hand-building classes, host private events and collaborate with local hospitality businesses to produce special events that combine pottery with dining.

“We’ve worked with Kantaro Okada from the North Melbourne cafe 279 to create a matcha cup making and matcha tasting experience. His other cafe Hareruya Pantry produced a custom gelato flavour for us while our students learnt to make sundae bowls.”

What brings Cassandra the most joy is being able to provide a sanctuary for anyone looking to de-stress and embrace the meditative flow of pottery, whether you’re a first-time potter or a seasoned artist.

"Pottery is mindful, it’s soothing. It’s a chance to get your hands dirty and to craft something unique and beautiful."