Frearson Brothers
The Frearson brothers, Samuel, Septimus and Robert were businessmen and publishers in the early days of Adelaide, South Australia, perhaps best remembered for "The Pictorial Australian", an illustrated monthly newspaper. History. Samuel Frearson (1845 – 22 September 1887), Septimus Frearson (1849 – 23 August 1932) and Robert Sands Frearson (c. 1853 – 26 January 1937) were born in London and emigrated with their parents Alfred Frearson (c. 1811–1867) and Frances Frearson (c. 1809–1898) and other siblings (10 in all) aboard "Cotfield", arriving in Adelaide in November 1853. Alfred and Frances took up land at Kanmantoo and later purchased Dr. Benjamin Archer  Kent's residence and property at Kent Town. Samuel began in business in 1868 as a stationer and bookseller in Kent Town, and was joined a year later by Septimus, trading as "Frearson Brothers", with a shop in Rundle Street; moved to 58 King William Street in 1872; the business became Frearson & Brother in 1873. In 1878 they secured a twenty-year lease on a building on the Gresham Street corner of King William Street which they named Frearson's Chambers, much of which they sub-let profitably. They took in solicitor Alfred Bonnin (c. 1829 – 1910) as a partner  and in 1882 they built Beaconsfield Buildings on the old King William site. They built new premises, Frearson's Printing House opposite the Sturt Hotel on Grenfell Street in 1882. The company published "Frearson's Weekly", "The Illustrated Adelaide News" 1874–1880, "Frearson's Monthly Illustrated Adelaide News" 1881–1884 and "The Pictorial Australian" as well as a series of Almanacs, several handbooks: Frearson's Handbook to the Goldfields of West Australia (6th ed. 1894); "Portonian" Cartoon Album (1874) They had a shop in King William Street, then removed to North Terrace before 1894, then to Grenfell Street. Samuel caught an infection  in 1884 while on a world cruise aboard the new steamer "City of Rome". He never fully recovered, and died three years later. In the 1880s the printing shop was moved to Adam Street, Hindmarsh, and in 1888 was acquired by W. H. Burford & Sons. Septimus moved with his family to Western Australia in 1895, settling in Norseman, where he published the "Norseman Pioneer", the first newspaper on the Dundas goldfields. He was elected mayor of Norseman in 1898. In 1914 he went to Dowerin to manage the farm of one of his sons, who was fighting overseas. When that  son was killed, Frearson retired to Applecross, where he died. Robert was engaged in business in the city up to 1891, when he was sent by his brothers to Western Australia to represent Frearsons' Printing House in Perth. Eventually he took over the management of Frearsons Printing House in Adelaide, which position he held until the firm changed hands. He then went into the advertising and publishing business on his own account. As a young man Mr. Frearson was an active member of the Church of Christ at Grote street and Glenelg, and took a considerable interest in the Northern  Territory, especially mining. He died at his home in L'Estrange Street, Knoxville (modern-day Glenside or Glenunga), leaving a widow, four sons, and three daughters. Frearson's Printing House was still a going concern in 1962, with premises at 83 Sturt Street, Adelaide and 20a Adam Street, Hindmarsh, though it is likely the Frearson family by then had no interest in the business. Family. The children of Alfred Frearson (c. 1811–1867) and Frances Frearson (c. 1809 – 11 December 1898) include: