[1] He was born at Cootamundra to public servant Charles Herman Burton Primrose and Sarah Maria, née Clissold.

He served on North Sydney Council from 1919 to 1938, with a period as mayor from 1926 to 1932.

[2][3][4][5] As mayor he was responsible for officially opening the Sydney Harbour Bridge's northern approach on 19 March 1932.

[6][7] He was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1932 as the United Australia Party member for North Sydney.

Defeated in 1941, Primrose died at Waverton the following year.