CROWDS gathered to see the unveiling of a plaque to mark Dorchester's greatest art export.

The work of Tom Roberts - who has been a hugely celebrated artist in Australia for more than a century - has gone largely unnoticed in his home town until now.

But now his work has finally caught the public's imagination in the town where he grew up.

And in a fanfare at a reception attended by members of the Australian High Commission and Tom Roberts's grandson Noel, a plaque went up in Durngate Street to mark the place of his birth.

Tom Roberts - described as Australia's Constable - died in 1931 after capturing the spirit of the nation with his works depicting farming scenes and portraits.

His greatest work, a picture of the 250 members of the first Australian parliament in 1901, took him three years to complete.

At the unveiling ceremony on Saturday one of his portraits, of a girl called Goda, was on show for a large crowd of people who turned out to honour his memory.

His grandson Noel Roberts, who lives in London, came to take the Australian flag down from the plaque with the country's public affairs attach Philip Hart.

Mr Roberts said: "I am very honoured on my grandfather's behalf that his name is being celebrated here."

His wife Christine said: "Our daughter Lisa has inherited some of Tom's artistic flair - she has a studio in Tasmania doing animation projects.

"We never really know what to think about whether Tom's work is famous or not - but when friends come back from Australia they all say how well-known he is over there."

Mr Hart said: "I think it is really exciting that Tom Roberts is being recognised in Dorchester - he has always been regarded as a cultural pioneer in Australia.

"He captured the colours and the feel of our country so well."

Chamber of Commerce president Richard Thorogood, who moved to Dorchester from his native Australia, said: "Over 1,500 people turned out in a tiny village to see one of Tom Roberts' paintings, queuing in the baking heat to see it, yet he has never been well known here and he was never recognised by the Royal Academy.

"But hopefully this has now changed and Dorchester can feel rightly proud of one of its famous sons."