John Stroomer became interested in pottery as a Shepparton Technical School student and trained at the Bendigo Institute of Technology. After graduating in 1974, he set up his own studio and gallery in Shepparton. Then, in 1977, he went into partnership with Rudolph Dybka, who needed help to set up the Belltower Pottery in nearby Kyabram. Stroomer later took over the pottery, employing as many as 23 workers and apprentices and, during this time, also setting up potteries in Healesville and Ballarat. After a fire in 1988 destroyed the building, he moved the pottery to the old Kyabram butter factory, where it operated until the late 1990s. Still based there as a solo potter, he currently specialises in high fired porcelain, crystalline glazes and large hand thrown pieces. He signs his recent work with his full name.

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