Frank Fearn created the painted pine table top in the early 1890’s. It was displayed in the establishment of Messrs Watts and Glasier, Bath Corner, Bendigo in January 1891, and described in the ‘Bendigo Advertiser’ as being a ‘work of art’ and having ‘a circle in the centre in which some ferns have been very nicely painted’ in an interesting allusion to his surname. ‘Around the circle are likenesses of about a couple of hundred public men representing the clergy, politics, law, sports and leading local residents’. There are also some women in the likenesses, however, not mentioned in the article. The portraits are ‘life-like and considering that they are all worked out in pen and ink only the result is really surprising’ (Bendigo Advertiser, 28th January 1891, p2) Frank Fearn (1836 – 1896) was a well known artist across the goldfield and, particularly, in his work on illuminated addresses ‘he had no superior and he enjoyed a monopoly in this line’. However, his work was not limited to a narrow field; being also known for his expertise in the theatre where he was a scene painter. Frank was born in Devonshire in 1835, migrating to Australia in 1852 on the ‘Henry Gillespie’. He spent some time as a scene painter at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne before trying his luck on the goldfield without much success. He then resumed his former profession painting scenery at the Lyceum Theatre, Bendigo. He was a member of the Bendigo Road Board during that time. He later spent time living at Tarnagulla where he leased the Theatre Royal and founded the ‘Easton and Bussey Troupe’. By 1871 he was in Dunolly, where he was appointed Land Officer for ten years. He founded the Dunolly Free library’ was Secretary of the Dunolly Philharmonic Society and a member of the Borough Council. He then went to St. Arnaud, where he leased the Railway refreshment rooms on the occasion of the opening of the rail line. His final twelve years were spent again in Bendigo. He was a witty and satirical author of articles in the ‘Bendigo Advertiser’, writing amongst other sketches, the ‘Chronicles of the Golden City’. On the occasion of Mark Twain’s (Mr. S.L. Clemens) visit to Bendigo in 1895, Frank Fearn presented him with an illuminated letter of welcome, organised in to a book form. Frank died in December 1896. (Bendigo Independent (Vic. : 1891 - 1918), Thursday 24 December 1896, p 3) A round wooden tabletop. The middle section has brown coloured images of ferns and is surrounded with a gold coloured decorative pattern. The outer section is filled with various sized faces of men and women who appear to be from the late 19th century. The initials F. F. (Frank Fearn) and 1890 are inscribed on the table top. Gold leaf edging surrounds the outer edge of the table. The bottom of the tabletop has a two centimetre diameter and eight centimetre long metal rod with half centimetre wide slot in the centre of the table top, presumable to hold legs. frank fearn, theatre, scenery painter, tarnagully, dunolly, mark twain, chronicles of the golden city, illuminated address

On March 26, 1897 the first issue of the Heidelberg News and Greensborough and Diamond Creek Chronicle was published A Crusading MP - Vernon Christie Adds and photos for Airlie Aged Care, Heidelberg Mitsubishi, Diamond Valley Secondary College, Old England Hotel, Banksia Secondary College, Heidelberg Central Shopping Precinct, Historic Firestation Café Bar Ivanhoe, Country Heritage, Eltham, Greensborough College, Bundoora Secondary College Long Golden history – Main Road, Eltham Ivanhoe Girls Grammar School history with photo Heidelberg first to reach 150 years Historical photos of Heidelberg Birthplace of impressionism Can you name mystery pupils from Greensborough State School 1953. From Humble beginnings – history of education 86 years of potions – pharmacies of the City of Heidelberg The hotel: a focus of a town District Auctioneers set property firm on road to success – William George Miles Eltham in old days – Norm Williams – Thompsons Pharmacy Couple’s mansion mission – Ravenswood Mansion, Beauview Parade Historic Banyule homestead Airlie Hospital (Airlie support residential service) Old England Hotel Tough times in the ‘30s Family Stores – Knorr family – Heidelberg Electrical pioneer Historical roads Hospital’s long road A long career in newspapers - Kevin Nihill A history of our schools – chronology timeline Memories in residence (Kangaroo Ground cemetery) West Heidelberg (photos) The oldest shire church (St Margaret’s Anglican Church Eltham) Macleod’s birth Ivanhoe Football Club history Jarrold Cottage Eltham Hotel hosted thrill of the hunt (Old England Hotel) Heidelberg Local newspaper (complete); 104 pagesnewspaper, local newspapers, diamond valley news, the heidelberg news