Florence Broadhurst is most renowned in Australia for her Sydney-based wallpaper business. As well as being a business woman, wallpaper and textile designer, Florence also had earlier careers as an artist (painter), dress consultant/designer and performer (singer and banjolele player). Born in Mt Perry, Queensland in 1899, Florence died in Sydney in 1977.

She established Australian (Hand Printed) Wallpapers Pty Ltd in St Leonards around 1960 moving to 12-24 Roylston Street, Paddington in 1969. She then changed the name of the business to Florence Broadhurst Wallpapers Pty Ltd advertising it as 'the only studio of its kind in the world'. With the aid of a small number of production, office and design staff, Florence designed, manufactured and single-handedly marketed, locally-produced high quality, hand-crafted wallpapers with luxurious, oversized patterns in vivid combinations of psychedelic colours. The designs were drawn from, and inspired by, an eclectic range of sources. The colourful peacock, along with bold geometric, stripe and floral designs printed on metallic papers, became hallmark designs.

As well as being renowned for her flamboyant wallpapers, Florence was also a Sydney personality. With her vibrant personality she represented many charitable and fund raising organisations and committees, in particular those associated with the manifestation of memorable public occasions such as grand fund raising balls for which Florence occasionally prepared elaborate festive decorations.

This wallpaper length complements the Museum's existing Florence Broadhurst collection in which we have a fine representative selection of sample books and an emerging collection of lengths and rolls of wallpaper in vibrant original colourways revealing the design's full repeat.

This roll of floral wallpaper was purchased on EBay. It is a design that Florence Broadhurst was obviously very proud of as she posed with for Kerry Dundas, a photographer working with Max Dupain & Associates during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Dundas's photograph shows Broadhurst surrounded by rolls of wallpaper in her Paddington studio with Broadhurst rolling this wallpaper design out for the camera.

Anne-Marie Van de Ven, Curator, June 2009

The wallpaper length was designed and made by Florence Broadhurst Wallpapers Pty Ltd in Paddington, Sydney, New South Wales, between 1969-1977. This wallpaper length does not feature the usual 'Australian Handprinted Wallpaper' or 'Florence Broadhurst Wallpapers' mark along the edge.

Wallpaper length, sunflower motif, floral design, screenprint on paper, designed and made by Florence Broadhurst Wallpapers Pty Ltd, Roylston Street, Paddington, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1969-1977

Wallpaper length featuring a screenprinted design of a circular floral motif supported by stems and leaves in linear rows in yellow, white and gold inks on beige background paper. The ends of the wallpaper length are unevenly trimmed.

Designed: Florence Broadhurst Wallpapers Pty Ltd; Paddington, New South Wales; 1969 - 1977

Made: Florence Broadhurst Wallpapers Pty Ltd; Paddington, New South Wales; 1969 - 1977

No marks.

2009/50/1

1969 - 1977

760 mm