Harold Browne

Harold Browne was born 9 October 1924, his father was a seafarer and had served in the Royal Australian Navy. Harold Browne was apprenticed as a sailmaker at the Garden Island sail loft at the age of 15 in 1939, he finished at the age of 20 in 1945. The then joined the merchant navy working on the foreign-going tramp steamer COROLA going to South America, Africa and Europe. On his first voyage his mentor died and Harold had to sew him in canvas for the burial at sea. After working on foreign going ships he worked soley on Australian coastal ships until 1948 when he married Françoise and stayed ashore. They had three daughters together. On shore Harold worked at a number of shipyards and sailmakers in Sydney including Pattens Slipway, Wests and Bretts. He spent his last working years back at Garden Island. He was president of the Sailmakers' Union and retired in 1986. He died in 1996 at the age of 72. His widow Françoise donated his collection to the Museum.