burrowes was returned to the victorian assembly for sandhurst in january 1866, and held the seat till his defeat in may 1877. in may 1880 he was re-elected, and held the seat until his death on 16 september 1893. from august 1881 to march 1883 he was minister of mines in the o'loghlen government. burrowes married in 1858 sarah ellen, daughter of p. vickery.