Background
Browne was born in Lislea, County Londonderry, Ireland, both parents were school teachers.
Browne was born in Lislea, County Londonderry, Ireland, both parents were school teachers.
He was educated at Coleraine Academical Institution and entered Trinity College, Dublin in 1903, but soon had to withdraw due to tuberculosis.
On advice he took a long sea voyage and travelled to Australia in 1904. Browne tutored before enrolling at the University of Sydney. In 1923 he was promoted to assistant professor
Browne completed The Geology of the Commonwealth of Australia, started by Professor Edgeworth David.
David informed Browne of this in March 1934, David died 28 August 1934. The New South Wales government commissioned Browne to publish the work, David"s manuscript was only a bundle of rough notes, some chapters were practically empty.
Geology was finally printed in 1950. The Sydney Metropolitan Water, Sewerage and Drainage Board invited Browne to investigate a site for a storage reservoir on the Warragamba River.
Browne found a better site and continued as geological adviser until 1960 when the Warragamba Dam was completed.