He was born at the village of Walichnowy in central Poland, the son of a landowner and military officer.

In about 1857 he joined the crew of a windjammer bound for Australia, leaving the ship at Portland, Victoria.

[2] Broinowski spent the next few years doing various jobs, including working for a publisher in Melbourne, selling and promoting his paintings, and travelling widely in eastern Australia.

In 1880 he settled in Sydney, teaching painting, lecturing on art and holding exhibitions of his own work.

[2] A great grandson, Richard Broinowski was an Australian public servant and diplomat.