Florence Broadhurst (1899–1977) was one of Australia’s most remarkable (and unconventional) designers. Although she only began designing wallpaper at around the age of 60, she created one of the most influential decorative archives of the 20th century.
Wallpaper sample, part of sample book, ‘Florence Broadhurst Hand Printed Collection Vol 8’, paper / ink, Florence Boradhurst Wallpapers Pty Ltd, Paddington, New South Wales, Australia, 1973. Via Powerhouse Museum
Many patterns were inspired by her extensive travels through China and Southeast Asia. Rather than minimalist modernism, her work celebrated ornament, colour and visual drama. Although Florence Broadhurst launched her wallpaper company only in 1959, her designs reflected a lifetime of visual influences – from Asian textiles and chinoiserie to Art Deco geometry and the bold graphics of the 1960s. At a time when modernist interiors often favoured restrained surfaces, she championed ornament, colour and theatrical pattern.
Her workshop also developed efficient drying-rack systems that allowed hand printing on a much larger scale. By the early 1970s the archive contained around 800 designs in numerous colourways. She dominated the luxury end of the Australian wallpaper market and exported internationally.
On 15 October 1977, Florence Broadhurst was murdered in her Paddington (Sydney) studio at the age of 78. The crime has never been solved, adding an enduring mystery to her story.
