brownlow's alcoholism contributed to his failure in a venture managing a hotel in western australia. stewart wrote in her memoirs of brownlow's great success with australian audiences, the "ease and grace and dash" that he brought to his roles, his huge popularity with the women who pursued him, and of his weakness for alcohol that led to his unhappy end. while living in australia, brownlow wrote the lyrics for several songs, including those to the ballad "without thy love", the music to which was written by fellow d'oyly carte artiste charles kenningham.