Bertie Brown

Albert George Thomas “Bertie” Brown was born on 8 October 1886 at Barringun, New South Wales, the son of William and Mary Brown. He married Elizabeth Jane Stewart in 1908 at Goodooga. The couple had twelve children between 1908 and 1929.

Bertie was a shearer and bush contractor, and by all accounts had his boys hard at work in the early years ringbarking and labouring around the area. The family moved to the Lightning Ridge district around 1921.

The family’s first home was a big shed near the box tree at the western end of town, perhaps the same box tree that stands in the Historical Society’s backyard! Later, the Browns moved to a house on Morilla Street near where Wallangulla Motel now stands.

Bertie Brown died at Walgett on 6 December 1958, aged 72. He is buried in the Lightning Ridge Cemetery.

• Bertie Brown @ Find a Grave.