The present building was formerly an outdoor concert pavilion opened in 1922 and its adaptive re-use was made possible with the closure of the proscenium arch.

The Newly adapted building was opened by the Chief Justice of New South Wales Sir Phillip Street.

In 1968 Clarice Thomas held the first ceramic exhibition and a major bequest by Lady Askin in 1984 has made the ongoing display of these works possible.

Many works were donated by artists including Margaret Preston, Thea Proctor, Will Ashton and Lloyd Rees.

They are displayed on rotation in the Lady Askin Ceramics Room, including works by Peter Rushforth, Ivan Englund, Janet Mansfield and Gwyn Hanssen Piggott.