Archive, David Miles Handprinted Wallpaper, press clippings, correspondence, photographs and design for 'Terrace House' mural commissioned by Florence Broadhurst and designed by David Miles, Sydney, 1968-1989.
Florence Broadhurst and David Miles were two of a very small coterie of individuals designing and manufacturing wallpaper in Australia. Interestingly, David Miles Handprinted Wallpapers was set up in direct competition with Florence Broadhurst (estab 1959) in 1969 after an earlier business disagreement. The David Miles collection therefore complements the Florence Broadhurst wallpaper collection acquired by the Powerhouse Museum in 1997 (exhibited 'Mod to Memphis', Powerhouse Museum, 2002).
Prompted by an altercation with Florence Broadhurst over a mural she commissioned him to design for the Top of the Cross hotel in Kings Cross, David Miles, a trained architectural draughtsman decided to use the contacts he had established while working with Merle de Boulay (a prominent Sydney decorator with an affluent clientele) to create and market a competitive set of locally-produced, artistic handprinted wallpaper designs for the burgeoning local interior design scene.
Miles, like Broadhurst before him, began by producing simple, uncomplicated single or two colour designs during early years of production, but by the early to mid-1970s, he too, like Broadhurst before him, was marketing flamboyant and sophisticated designs in psychedelic colours on metallic foil paper to an increasingly adventurous and affluent clientele.
For David Miles, improvements in production became possible after David Miles Handprinted Wallpapers was brought by Wilson Fabrics and Wallcoverings (Arthur G Wilson Pty Ltd) in 1971, and recognition and success attained when twenty-six David Miles Handprinted Wallpaper designs were selected for inclusion in the Industrial Design Council of Australia (IDCA)'s Australian Design Index in 1972. These designs, featuring the IDCA's 'Good Design' label, are included in the David Miles Handprinted Wallpaper collection.
Anne-Marie Van de Ven, Curator 2003

Produced in various locations around Sydney.

David Miles, born Muswellbrook, NSW 1945. Architectural draughtsperson, artist, fabric and wallpaper designer and manufacturer. Cherie Miles (nee King), born Sydney 1950. Commercial photographer, artist, fabric and wallpaper designer.

David Miles studied architectural draughting, Sydney Technical College, Ultimo. Joined Merle du Boulay Interiors in 1966 through whom he met Leslie Walford, Babette Hayes, June Driver, James Mooreland, Sue Over, Barry Little, Tom Terry and other Sydney decorators. Established David Miles Handprints Australia in 1969 in direct competition with Florence Broadhurst Wallpapers Pty Ltd for whom he had designed a restaurant mural in 1968. Married Cherie King, a commercial photographer (born Sydney 1950) in 1970, who went on to become David Miles's co-designer and business partner.

Wilson Fabrics and Wallcoverings (Arthur G Wilson Pty Ltd) purchased David Miles Handprints in 1971 and in 1972, the Industrial Design Council of Australia selected 26 David Miles designs for inclusion in the Industrial Design Council of Australia (IDCA)'s Australian Design Index. Around 1970, Wilson Fabrics and Wallcoverings also purchased Florence Broadhurst (Handprinted) Wallpapers then differentiating the various wallpaper designers by establishing 'Signature Handprints'. Wilson's was taken over by James Hardie Industries Pty Ltd around 1977.

David and Cherie Miles set up in rented premises in Myrtle Street, Chippendale with ten 20 metre long flatbed screen printing tables around 1977 remaining there until 1989 and gradually re-establishing their own design and printing business under various names, including Cherie Miles, Lilly Pilli Designs and David K Miles which they sold to Baresque Pty Ltd. David and Cherie Miles continued designing for Baresque during the 1980s on a contractual basis, eventually abandoning wallpaper, fabric and fashion design for limited edition art prints and painting in 1989.

Mural designed around 1968. Archive dates from 1969 to 1989.

Personal collection/archive of the designers.

David Miles was born in 1945 in Muswellbrook, New South Wales. Miles studied architectural draughting at the Sydney Technical College, Ultimo. In 1966 he joined Merle du Boulay Interiors, where he met a number of leading Sydney decorators, including Leslie Walford, Babette Hayes, June Driver, James Mooreland, Sue Over, Barry Little, and Tom Terry. In 1969 he established David Miles Handprints Australia, in direct competition with Florence Broadhurst Wallpapers Pty Ltd (for whom he had designed a restaurant mural in 1968). In 1970 he married Cherie King (born 1950, Sydney), a commercial photographer, who went on to become Miles's co-designer and business partner.

Wilson Fabrics and Wallcoverings (Arthur G Wilson Pty Ltd) purchased David Miles Handprints in 1971, and in 1972 the Industrial Design Council of Australia selected 26 David Miles designs for inclusion in the Industrial Design Council of Australia's Australian Design Index. Around 1970, Wilson Fabrics and Wallcoverings also purchased Florence Broadhurst (Handprinted) Wallpapers and then differentiated the various wallpaper designers by establishing 'Signature Handprints'. Wilson Fabrics was taken over by James Hardie Industries Pty Ltd around 1977.

Around 1977 David and Cherie Miles set up in rented premises in Myrtle Street, Chippendale. with ten 20 metre long flatbed screen printing tables. They remained there until 1989, gradually re-establishing their own design and printing business under various names, including Cherie Miles, Lilly Pilli Designs and David K Miles (which they sold to Baresque Pty Ltd). David and Cherie Miles continued designing for Baresque during the 1980s on a contractual basis, eventually abandoning wallpaper, fabric and fashion design for limited edition art prints and painting in 1989.

Archive, press clippings, correspondence, photographs and design for 'Terrace House' mural commissioned by Florence Broadhurst and designed by David Miles, David Miles Handprinted Wallpaper, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1968-1989

Press clippings, correspondence (including photocopies) and photographs relating to David Miles Handprinted Wallpaper, Sydney, 1969-1989, and design for mural, 'Terrace house', ink and coloured pencil on paper, designed by David Miles and commissioned by Florence Broadhurst for restaurant in the Top of the Cross hotel, Kings Cross, Sydney, 1968-1969.

Made: Miles, David; Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; 1968 - 1989

: Miles, Cherie; Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

2003/105/1

1968 - 1989