He was born in Scotland and first arrived in Australia during the Victorian gold rush, developing diverse business interests in Melbourne.

[2] His mother was the widow of Hugh Junor, a merchant originally from the Black Isle who came to own a timber plantation and a substantial number of slaves in Essequibo.

[1] During the gold rush, Browne established a brick factory in Brunswick and ran a store at Forest Creek.

He remained in South Africa for two years, eventually purchasing a ship and bringing a cargo of sugar to Melbourne which he sold for a substantial profit.

[1] Browne established a séance circle at his home in East Melbourne, where his daughter Pattie frequently served as medium.

Several weeks later, a great white shark measuring 14 feet (4.3 m) was caught off the pier at Frankston and was found to have consumed Hugh's right arm and various personal possessions.

Spriggs purported to make contact with their spirits and produced a detailed account of their death, which Browne attempted to submit as evidence to a coronial inquest.