Browne, James Howard (1919 - 2004)

Summary

Howard Browne worked as a gardener for the Mildura Shire Council and became a well-respected and prolific plant collector and photographer. In 1939 he joined the army (Permanent Military Forces) where he served in Darwin (and continued to garden and study plants). He then served with the Australian Imperial Force in New Guinea and Bougainville and was blinded in one eye. Browne returned from war duties and set up a vineyard at Willra Station in New South Wales, but by the late 1950s was back in Red Cliffs. There he took up his post with the Mildura Shire Council and set about landscaping the streets of Red Cliff with native trees and plants. He also collected over 1000 plants for La Trobe University and the National Herbarium and discovered at least 17 new plant species in Victoria. These included Calandrinia volubilis (1974) - not recorded in Australia since 1863, Halosarcia syncarpa - not recorded in Victorian since 1897, and Sarcozona praecox which was presumed extinct in Victoria. Browne's keen interest in flora began at an early age having grown up on an orchard in Red Cliffs. Over the years he taught himself botany and became an expert in the region's local flora. Howard Browne was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in January 1991 and an honorary Masters of Science Degree from La Trobe University in April 1992 in recognition for his contribution to teaching and research.

Details

Chronology

1939 - c. 1946

Military service - Second World War. Service in Darwin, New Guinea and Bougainville

c. 1947 - 1950s

Career position - Grew grape vines in New South Wales

1950s - s

Career position - Gardner with the Mildura Shire Council

1991

Award - Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) - In recognition of service to conservation, particularly in the field of botany

1992

Award - Honorary Master of Science (MSc), La Trobe University

Published resources

Journal Articles

• Parsons, Bob and Allen, Geoff, 'Obituary: James Howard Browne', Vic Naturalist, 121 (2004). Details

Resources

• Wikidata, http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q6136300. Details
• CA 2002, 2 Echelon, Army Headquarters; CA 46, Department of Defence [III], Central Office, 'NAA: B883, VX85275', B883 Second Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1939-1947, National Archives of Australia, RecordSearch, https://RecordSearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=6055367. Details
• 'Browne, James Howard (1919-2004)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1475677. Details

Resource Sections

• 'James Howard Browne (1919- )', in Australian National Botanic Gardens - Biography, Australian National Botanic Gardens, 2002, http://www.anbg.gov.au/biography/browne-james-howard.html. Details