Empire Revival 40th Anniversary Celebrations

Brisbane’s beloved Empire Revival - formerly the Paddington Antique Centre - is celebrating its 40th anniversary this month, honouring four decades of antique magic, vintage treasures, rich stories, and a deep sense of heritage and community in the heart of the city’s inner west.

Housed in the spectacular, 96-year-old heritage-listed Plaza Theatre on Latrobe Terrace, Empire Revival is Australia’s longest-running antique collective - and a weekend ritual for vintage lovers, design devotees and curious visitors alike.

More than just a place to shop, it’s an experience: a journey through time, colour, craftsmanship and character, all beneath a grand vaulted ceiling where the stories of the past linger in the air. 

Originally opened on 13 May 1985, the business was reimagined as Empire Revival in 2018 and is now home to over 60 independent traders. Antique dealers, artisan makers, jewellers, designers, stylists and treasure-hunters come together in this one-of-a-kind retail space that has long been woven into Brisbane’s creative and cultural fabric.

Set against the backdrop of the Plaza Theatre, built in 1929, Empire Revival brings new life to one of Brisbane’s last remaining atmospheric theatres. Its iconic blue ceiling once mimicked a night sky, complete with glowing clouds and moonlight, while movie-goers flocked here by tram to catch the latest serials and features seven days a week.

From rare antique furniture and art deco jewellery to vintage fashion and bespoke textiles, Empire Revival reflects the eclectic tastes of its customers - and the generations of Brisbanites who’ve made memories there.