Since the previous acqusition of material related to Florence Broadhurst contact has been made with her son, Robert Lewis, who confirmed that Florence was born in 1900 in Bundaberg, Queensland. After overseas travel and marriage in London, Florence began her wallpaper business in 1959 and spent the following 18 years creating new designs and printing silk screens with her clients at a retail (rather than wholesale level) and thereby developed a wholly personalised approach to design and service, for which she was well known.

Her clients included Estee Lauder, Qantas, a chain of Saudia Arabian hotels, the 1960s-70s social set - Jill Wran and many private clients, restaurants and clubs from the Sydney area. From 1966, Florence and her staff in her Roylston St Studio in Paddington produced over 800 designs and 6000 printed samples many of which are represented in the current acquisition. Broadhurst used a great variety of techniques and colours including metallic and pearlised (waterproof) finishes. After her murder in 1977 the business was run by Wilson's Fabrics and then bought by Signature Handprints who continue to market a small range of her designs today.

This collection covers the lifework of Broadhurst and highlights a selection of her most outstanding designs from an 8 year period. The Peacocks design is Broadhurst 'signature' design by which she is best known. In her promotional advertising material in home and lifestyle magazines of the time she often placed herself in front of this design and it was obviously a strong favourite. It represents her best work from the 1960s. 'Large Paisely' represents Broadhurst's mature style of the 1970s.

The screens and photopositives were manufactured by the Broadhurst Studio.

1959-1977 was the date range for the manufacture of the sample books although they have continued to be used up into the 1990s.

Originally used by Florence Broadhurst (and her workshop) to print her wallpaper designs.

The set of four silkscreens used to print the 'Peacock' design have also been acquired (see 97/322/2). Broadhurst particularly identified with this design using it in advertisements in home and lifestyle magazines of the time to promote her business. Jill Wran was one of many social identities who used the design in their homes.

In their Annandale premises Signature Skip Printz P/L had the total remaining set of silkscreens, photopositives and recently printed paper copies of these designs to aid quick and easy identification.

The photopositives are generally in good condition except one sheet of the photopositive 'Close Harmony' (245) which may need to be reprinted if included in the Contemporary Gallery.

On Broadhurst's death in 1977 the business was then taken over by her son, Robert Lewis and his wife. In the early 1980s it was sold to Wilsons Fabrics (now Signature Skip Prints P/L).

Photopositives, five different designs, plastic, and proof prints of different designs (3), paper, wallpaper manufacture process material, designed and produced by Florence Broadhurst Wallpapers Pty Ltd, Sydney, Australia, 1969-1977

Part of a collection of process material relating to wallpaper designer Florence Broadhurst. There is a test/proof print for the 'Swedish Stripe' wallpaper design, four photopostives for the 'Peacock's' (129) wallpaper design, four photopostives for the 'Close Harmony' (245) wallpaper design, four photopostives for the 'Large Paisley' wallpaper design (identified as 'Tapestry' on the photopostives), four photopostives and a test/proof print for the 'Arabian Birds' wallpaper design and four photopostives and a test/proof print for the 'Floral Trail' (133) wallpaper design.

Designed: Broadhurst, Florence; ; 1969 - 1977

Made: 1969 - 1977


Used: Signature Skip Printz Pty Ltd; ; 1959 - 1977

Used: 1959 - 1977

See part records for details.

97/322/3

1969 - 1977