William Brahe was born in 1835 in Paderborn, Germany.

He came to Victoria in 1852 and worked as a gold digger, drover, storekeeper and wagon driver. Brahe's brother, William Alexander, was a solicitor in Melbourne and was well known within the German community and was a founder member of the Deutscher Verein.

Brahe submitted an application to join the Expedition.

Original item held at the State Library of Victoria, SLV MS13071, Boxes 2076/1-2076/5 and Boxes 2077/1-2077/4. Royal Society of Victoria, Exploration Committee Records: Applications to join the VEE received by the EC.

At an Ordinary meeting of the Exploration Committee of the Royal Society of Victoria held on Monday, 9 July 1860, Burke submitted a list of persons to join the party, which included Brahe.

He was appointed to the VEE in July 1860 on a salary of £120 pa. and travelled to Cooper Creek where Burke placed him in charge of the Depot Party.

On the 18 August 1860, Brahe signed the Memorandum of Agreement at the Royal Society of Victoria.

After the Commission of Enquiry, Brahe moved to Queensland, New Zealand and then Fiji where he married Elise Hinze in 1874. Brahe moved back to Victoria and became Crown Lands bailiff at Macedon in Gisborne shire.

He was the last surviving member of the VEE Cooper Creek party. He died at his home, Enmore on St Kilda Street at Elwood on 16th September 1912 and is buried in Brighton Cemetery.

Where Brahe went on the expedition

Brahe's Grave, Brighton Cemetery, Melbourne.

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