March 2006

Florence Broadhurst: Her Secret & Extraordinary Lives by Helen O'Neill

Signature Prints’ most famous designer, Florence Broadhurst, is the subject of a new book that is destined to become a design classic: Florence Broadhurst: Her Secret & Extraordinary Lives written by Helen O'Neill and published by Hardie Grant Books (Melbourne, Australia).

This thoroughly researched large-format book takes the reader on a compelling journey through Florence Broadhurst’s amazing life, from rural Australia to her ground-breaking wallpaper business in Sydney, via the decadence of Shanghai in the 1920s and the elegance of London in the 1930s.

Helen O'Neill then brings the Florence Broadhurst story bang up to date, and chronicles her worldwide rediscovery and the role played in this resurgence by Helen Lennie and David Lennie of Signature Prints.

The book is not only a compelling and immensely readable biography of Florence Broadhurst, it is also sumptuously illustrated with more than70 designs, all of them reproduced in full colour.

Signature Prints is delighted to have been involved in the production of this book and has allowed Helen access to, along with the use of, many designs from the Florence Broadhurst library that have not been seen by the public for three decades.

“Nearly 10 years of hard labour by many within Signature Prints has taken the name Florence Broadhurst from obscurity to International acclaim. We see Helen’s publication, in its opulent glory, as one more leap forward in the cementing of Florence’s name forever in the international fields of both high fashion and design. Signature Prints is very proud of its endeavours!!!” says David Lennie

Florence Broadhurst had an amazing capacity to reinvent herself, which made the book a tricky one to research. Helen O'Neill describes her quest:

“Researching Florence Broadhurst's life was a roller coaster. She led a series of lives in different countries, musing different names and inventing different histories for each. Getting to the bottom of her life – and the genesis of her extraordinary designs – involved approaching everybody from the titled wives of former prime ministers to convicted criminals. The result is a story that has to be read to be believed.”

Florence Broadhurst: Her Secret & Extraordinary Lives is available from bookstores Australia-wide. The book is also available direct from Signature Prints and selected Signature Prints stockists.

More information

Images of some of the designs featured in Florence Broadhurst: Her Secret & Extraordinary Lives are available from Signature Prints.

An image of the book’s cover is available from Hardie Grant:

telephone +61 (0)3
www.hardiegrant.com.au
Author interview requests should also be directed to Hardie Grant.

Media information and high-res images of Signature Prints fabrics, furnishings and home collection ranges are available from our website: www.signatureprints.com.au. Please note that you must apply for a media password (which allows access to high-resolution images) on the website and this takes up to 24 hours to be issued.

For all media enquiries, including interview requests with Helen Lennie and David Lennie, please contact:

Roger Balch
Signature Prints publicist
mobile: +61 (0)422 945 685
email: media@signatureprints.com.au

For detailed product information, loan of product for photo shoots, prices and availability please contact:

Helen Lennie,
Signature Prints
Tel: +61 (0)2 8338 8400
email: helenl@signatureprints.com.au

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