Featuring Empire Revival in Paddington, The Emporium in Kalbar, & Wiss Cottage Accommodation
The Experiences
Follow us out to the charming town of Kalbar in the Scenic Rim, where ER has taken on the landmark Wiss Emporium building. With a boutique country feel befitting its backdrop, The Emporium has a different style and structure to its Paddington counterpart, but is no less fabulous. Take a short 50 minute drive out to experience the character and calm unique to this part of the world. You’re sure to find something special to take home with you.
Housed in one of Brisbane’s most iconic buildings in the heart of Paddington, we are a unique collective trading enterprise with 50 different merchants, offering a distinctive range of jewellery, fashion, furniture, antiques and homewares. Whether you are looking for the perfect ring, table, chair, dress, teaset, light or small collectable, you will find it at ER. Our knowledgeable and friendly team is focussed on service. We strive to create a retail theatre experience for each ER customer. Every day we help discerning people find their style.
When Lionel Wiss and his family had established their business in town, they built Wiss Cottage, built in 1890, was the first home of Lionel Wiss and his family. In 1909 he built a new, much larger store to house his business. Soon after he acquired land on the rise to the south east of Kalbar’s main street. Here he built the family a beautiful new four bedroom home with a formal sitting room and separate dining room.
Exhibitions
Every month we have a new exhibition in the front foyer of Empire Revival Paddington, showcasing some of the best pieces from our large range of merchants. Our themes can be anything from Art Deco to vintage farmhouse to black and white extravaganza. The Emporium is blessed with four large shopfront windows that have constantly changing displays. Often the windows are the work of guest stylists, merchandisers, or history buffs.
History
Paddington Antique Centre opened in the historic Plaza Theatre building in 1985. In 2008, Suzy Baines purchased the business and in 2018 it matured into what we now know as Empire Revival. Since then, we have been constantly growing our collection of old, new and odd to meet our customers’ needs and desires. We now have a store in another iconic Queensland building– The Emporium in Kalbar– with a beautiful cottage next door available for overnight visitors.
All our buildings are heritage-listed and offer a window into a significant chapter in the history of their respective locations.
Suzy Baines: The Mind Behind the Madness
Suzy Baines, the owner and director of Empire Revival and the Wiss businesses, has had a very diverse career. Her roots are in journalism and business, but Suzy has always been a lover (and avid collector) of antiques, art and everything in between. She grew up in Central Queensland and has worked in London, Brisbane, Hobart, Melbourne and finally Kalbar, seeing and learning a huge amount about collectibles and interior design along the way. Her main passions are Art Deco furniture, buttons, bakelite and amazing jewellery and fashion of all descriptions, but she has an appreciation for anything unique and beautiful. Fourteen years ago she jumped at the opportunity to take on the iconic Paddington Antique Centre, seeing it as an avenue to share the unique and beautiful with a like-minded community. Suzy has used her experience and distinctive style to grow the business into something even bigger and better– and she’s still going!
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Jewellery
OUR JEWELLERY MERCHANTS ARE EXTREMELY POPULAR, BECAUSE OF THE SCALE, DIVERSITY AND QUALITY OF THEIR PRODUCTS. Whatever the occasion, every taste and interest is catered for. We have a fabulous precious and estate jewellery collection ranging from the 19th century...
Homewares
OUR HOMEWARES MERCHANTS OFFER A VAST RANGE OF CERAMIC, GLASS, SILVERWARE AND LIGHTING. Ceramics, china and pottery are an ER speciality. Our merchants are continually sourcing the very best collectible items, and have deep professional knowledge of this field. We have...
Furniture
YOU WILL FIND EVERY IMAGINABLE STYLE OF FURNITURE AT ER – ANTIQUE, ARTS AND CRAFTS, ART DECO, MID-CENTURY, SCANDINAVIAN, COUNTRY, AND SHABBY CHIC, TO NAME JUST A FEW OF OUR STYLES. Our furniture merchants continually scour the world for special pieces to showcase at...