Te Toi Uku

The Portage Ceramics Trust was formed in 2005, in order to purchase a large private collection of ceramics and pottery-making equipment. This collection related to Crown Lynn Potteries Limited, a highly successful New Zealand company which operated from 1948 until 1989. Their products were in virtually every New Zealand home.

The Crown Lynn collection is very broad and represents the materials, styles, and techniques employed by the company.

The Portage Ceramics Trust was anxious to ensure that the collection remained as close as possible to the New Lynn site where Crown Lynn operated, and a home has been found there for the collection.

Te Toi Uku, the museum space, is located next to the historic Gardner Brothers and Parker downdraft kiln in Ambrico Place.

Te Toi Uku Clayworks museum is administered by the Portage Ceramics Trust. It houses a heritage collection from the West Auckland clay industry, from the early clay pipe-making days to the Crown Lynn era.