Summary

William Brown was born in Rutland, England, in 1861. In 1885 he emigrated to Australia with his wife in the hope of becoming a shepherd. He instead worked for the railways in Queensland for many years, for part of this time in the Cloncurry and Bowen Districts in the state's north.

In the 1930's Brown compiled three interesting autobiographical accounts entitled: "The Early Years – 1861–1919," "The Railway Years – 1886–1929," and "The WW2 Years, Jan 1939–Nov 1940." The Archive also contains a 1929 diary which covers a trip to England in that year.

Following is the text of his wife's obituary which contains some pertinent information:

Mrs. E. Brown — Mrs. Elizabeth Brown, wife of William Brown, of 46 James Street, Dutton Park, died recently at the age of 74 years and four months. She was born at Seaton Ross, Yorkshire, and reached Brisbane with her husband and one child in the Merkarra, on February 9, 1885. She lived at Talgai, Sherwood, Wyandra, Charleville, Cloncurry, Brandon, Bowen, and Brisbane. She leaves a husband, three sons, William (Wakala), John Henry (Dalby), George Alexander (Brisbane), and five daughters, Mrs. H. Smith (Sherwood), Mrs. J. Colville, Mrs. Fedrick (Brisbane), Mrs. C. Rasmussen (Pioneer), and Miss E. Brown (Cairns).¹

This archive consists of an autobiography and diary.