During a lifetime membership of the staff of the Department of Geology, Sydney University, he contributed some 36 original publications, a number of which are of great merit reflecting an unusually able and critical attitude of mind in prosecuting investigations. These publications deal mainly with major petrological and igneous problems of the Commonwealth.
The most notable of his works was the co-ordination and revision of Sir Edgeworth David's manuscript, incomplete when he died, to which Browne added greatly and, after years of work and study produced as the Authority on the Geology of the Commonwealth (3 volumes).
At various times Browne has been seconded to give technical advice relating to large public works and the Broken Hill mines.