Empire Revival

18/10/2026

🔎 GOT A TREASURE? WE’VE GOT QUESTIONS. 😉

We’re still a couple of weeks away from our next Appraisal Day at Empire Revival, so you’ve got time to dig through the cupboards, dust off that mystery heirloom and finally find out whether Great Aunt Mabel’s vase is a priceless antique or just… a vase. 😂

Our in-house experts will be on hand to answer your questions about ceramics, glassware, silverware, furniture and miscellaneous curiosities.

📅 Sunday, November 1
⏰ 10am–12pm
📍 Empire Revival Foyer, 167 Latrobe Terrace, Paddington

A gold coin donation per item goes to preciouswingsqld , supporting a great local cause.

Start gathering your treasures, polishing up your stories and getting those mystery objects ready. We can’t promise a fortune, but we can promise a fascinating morning!

17/10/2026

Meet George. Empire Revival’s most regular customer, most enthusiastic greeter, and possibly our least profitable employee. 🐶😂

He pops in every day for pats, treats and a quick inspection of the stock.

His catching skills might still need a little work, but when it comes to sniffing out a bargain, the boy’s got a nose for business. 🛍️

No payslip. No staff discount. Just vibes, snacks and an absolutely packed appointment book.
We love you, George. ❤️

16/10/2026

We’ve got vases coming out of our… well, just about everywhere. 😂🏺

This is just a tiny taste of the vase-iverse at Empire Revival. From vintage beauties to quirky conversation starters, we’ve got enough variety to make your flowers feel seriously underdressed.

Come for a browse. Leave with a vase. And possibly a plant to justify it. 🌿

15/10/2026

👜 LAINEY’S TOP 5: PURSES WITH PERSONALITY 👜
Meet Elaine, our resident purse whisperer and professional enabler of the phrase “I’ve got nothing to wear… but I do have the perfect handbag.” 😂

She’s picked her top 5 purses currently hiding in plain sight at Empire Revival — from vintage beauties to absolute conversation starters.

The only problem? You’re going to want all five.

Go on, have a squiz. Your current handbag collection won’t judge you. And if it does, it’s probably time for an upgrade. 😉

📍 Empire Revival, Paddington

14/10/2026

Some people say you’ve got too much stuff. We say you’ve got a perfectly respectable collection of things you absolutely needed. 😂
And if you happen to find something else you absolutely need, you know where we are.
📍 Empire Revival, Paddington.

13/10/2026

11/10/2026

Just checking the scooters are roadworthy and the staff are up to scratch. 🐈🛵
Management takes many forms at Empire Revival. 😂

09/10/2026

50¢ fares, vintage chairs and 1000sqm of treasures. 🚌✨
Skip the parking hunt, leave the hill climbs to someone else and let the bus drop you right at our front door.
We’ve even provided a seat for the wait! Though we can’t promise you’ll want to leave it. 😂

07/10/2026

That blue roof isn’t just iconic. It has a story. 💙

Back in 1929, the building we now know as Empire Revival was being built as the Plaza Theatre — a grand suburban picture palace designed by Brisbane architect Richard Gailey Jnr and built by local contractor John Hutchinson.

The Plaza was something rather special. It was an “atmospheric” theatre, a style of cinema that turned the auditorium itself into part of the experience. Instead of simply sitting inside a theatre, audiences were transported somewhere else — in this case, an imagined Spanish courtyard beneath an open sky.

That famous vaulted blue ceiling was designed to resemble the sky. During the day, suspended clouds and lighting effects helped create the illusion of being outdoors. At night, stars twinkled overhead and a moon moved across the ceiling, creating an ever-changing theatrical sky above the audience. 🌙✨

And then there’s the proscenium arch — the magnificent decorative arch that framed the stage and screen. The Plaza’s survives today, complete with ornate plasterwork and Spanish-inspired detailing. It’s one of the remarkable original features that connects the building we walk through today directly to its life as a cinema.

Atmospheric theatres were inspired by the work of American theatre architect John Eberson and became hugely popular in Australia in the late 1920s and early 1930s. The Plaza is particularly significant because it is one of only two remaining atmospheric theatre buildings in Australia, according to Empire Revival.

So next time you walk through the doors, look up.
You’re not just looking at a blue roof.
You’re looking at a little piece of 1920s theatrical magic that survived. 💙

06/10/2026

Funny how your fitness tracker celebrates 10,000 steps, but your house suddenly needs rearranging to fit all your new treasures. 😂🛍️