[2] He landed in Australia in 1866 and commenced gold mining at Araluen, New South Wales before working his trade at Gympie, Herberton and Croydon.

[2] Unmarried,[2] he died in office of pneumonia and angina[2] in Brisbane in 1904 and his funeral proceeded from St John's Cathedral[2] to the Toowong Cemetery.

[3] Browne became president and secretary of the Amalgamated Miners' Association in Croydon, and was an alderman in the same town.

[1] In August 1890 Browne contested a by-election for the seat of Burke in the Queensland Legislative Assembly, but lost to John Hoolan by 24 votes.

[2] At the 1893 Queensland colonial elections, Browne, representing the Labour Party, won the new seat of Croydon, holding it till his death in 1904.