We worked with International Conservation Services and Greater Union to conserve the exceptionally significant murals and finishes in the Butterfly Room at Sydney’s historic State Theatre.
Completed in 1929, the State Theatre was designed as a lavishly decorated eclectic composition combining the French Empire style with Baroque, Italianate, Gothic, Tudor and Art Deco elements.
The character lounges or retiring rooms were one of the unique features of the State Theatre.
The Butterfly Room, along with the Pompadour Room and the Futurist Room, was one of three rooms reserved for female patrons. It was a unique butterfly-themed bespoke space designed in tones of pink, pale green and golden-buff.
The original murals and other painted finishes have long been painted over or concealed. Under the expert guidance of Urbis, the current conservation project has returned this important, lost interior to its original appearance. The project was awarded a 2020 National Trust Heritage Award.
“The Butterfly Room is a magical space that provides a unique window into the eclectic interior design language popular in Sydney between the wars.
