Artistic director Bernadette Mansfield said the result had been beyond her expectations, with more than 530 delegates attending and a great deal of enthusiasm about the small changes that had been made and the future of the event.

The Prince of Wales Opera House has hosted a series of enlightening talks and panel discussions with ceramic experts and master potters, while a host of marquees at the Red Hill festival hub have housed demonstrations, discussions and the creation of new works.

Along with many returning visitors, Ms Mansfield said there had been a large number of new delegates this year coming to Gulgong for the first time.

Ceramic designer Justin Crowe said the ceramics community was dispersed, so it was always good to attend a big conference and meet with others who shared a passion for clay.

“Potters are cool people,” said Su Alanna, who has been returning to Gulgong for 20 years. “They’re funny – I mainly come for the laughs.”

Keith Brymer Jones, an international ceramic superstar thanks to his work on the BBC’s Great British Pottery Throw Down, has been so taken with the town that he plans to design a Gulgong cup and his Clay Gulgong t-shirt may make an appearance on the TV show’s second season.

The festival program has also spilled out into the town, beginning with the opening night street party and continuing with daily exhibition openings in just about every available venue, along with pottery displays in shops along Mayne Street.

Ms Mansfield said she appreciated the response from the warm and friendly Gulgong community, which had been most accommodating in welcoming the influx of guests to the town.

Colleen Harvey of Delumptious said while her patisserie was always busy, in the past week she had even put on extra staff to meet the strong demand.

“There wouldn’t be one person that’s not gaining out of it,” she said.

“It’s win-win-win really.”

She was glad to see the legacy of the event successfully continuing, and looked forward to the festival’s return.