Canberra Potters: Custom T Tables for the Garden
October 2026
Canberra Potters are the ACT’s pre-eminent ceramic arts organisation, having recently celebrated 50 years in 2025. Their Watson Arts Centre facility includes ceramic workshops, professional kiln and glazing facilities, a gallery, artist studios, onsite artist accommodation, a retail shop and tranquil gardens.
Custom square T Table Design in Spotted Gum, perfect for smaller outdoor spaces or apartment balconies.
The gardens are a beautiful space but needed some outdoor furniture for people to congregate, have lunch and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. Canberra Potters received funding from artsACT and contacted Thor’s Hammer about designing and manufacturing outdoor tables for the gardens.
Choosing the T Table design
Two clean dressed T Tables in recycled Spotted Gum.
Canberra Potters visited the Thor’s Hammer showroom, where we have two of our three outdoor table designs on display. The Trestle Table and the T Table are both in the showroom, and Canberra Potters were drawn to the design of the T Table.
Three tables were commissioned: two larger tables measuring 2000 × 900 × 830mm high and a smaller, square version measuring 1300 × 1300 × 830mm.
Recycled Spotted Gum for outdoor living
Recycled Spotted Gum was the preferred timber for the table tops. Spotted Gum is not just strong; it tells a story through its unique grain patterns and varied colourings. Its durability and hardwearing nature make it well suited to high-traffic outdoor areas.
Spotted Gum is one of the rarer and more difficult timber species to source in the recycled timber space, so we like to reserve our stocks for custom furniture, joinery and benchtops.
Customising the T Table
There was one aesthetic change to the T Table's steel legs. Canberra Potters preferred a flatter steel base, so our design team revised the design to suit. We can work with you to modify elements of our standard designs, and we're happy to accommodate changes where we can.
The steel legs were powder coated over a zinc-rich primer for improved corrosion resistance. This is now our standard approach for any coated outdoor steel, helping improve durability.
Finishing touches and accessibility
A clean, dressed finish was chosen for the table tops. This works well for outdoor furniture, although it requires a little more maintenance than a rustic or sawtooth finish. All three table tops were coated in Osmo UV Protection Oil 410 to provide additional protection against the elements.
Accessibility was also an important consideration for the public garden setting. The table height was increased by 80mm, from the standard 750mm to 830mm, to allow for comfortable wheelchair seating.
Get ready for summer
With summer on the way, now is a good time to start thinking about making more of your outdoor spaces. Whether you're after a table for the backyard, a larger setting for entertaining or something custom designed for a public or commercial space, Thor's Hammer has a range of outdoor table designs to get you started. Visit our showroom to see the designs in person, or get in touch with our design team to discuss a table made to suit your space.
Photography by Bianca Knox
