Brownie Doolan

Brownie Doolan Perrurle
Born	1918 New Crown station near Finke, Australia
Died	2011
Occupation(s)	Aboriginal tracker, stockman
Known for	Last fluent speaker of the Lower Arrernte language, extensive career as a tracker

Brownie Doolan Perrurle (1918–2011) was an Aboriginal tracker recognized as the final individual fluent in the Lower Arrernte language, which ceased to be spoken following his passing. The Australian linguist Gavan Breen documented approximately one thousand Lower Arrernte terms by recording sessions with Doolan.

The language was spoken within Doolan’s family circle, including his mother Fanny, father Paddy, and grandmother who lived near Aputula. Official native affairs documentation verified his birth year as 1918.

During 1945–46, Doolan was employed as a stockman at Andado Station, accompanied by his wife Edie and their two children. Subsequently, he took on the role of an Aboriginal police tracker serving the Finke and Kulgera police stations. Census data from the 1960s indicate that Doolan and his wife Biddy resided in Finke; he was identified as belonging to the Purula subgroup of the Arrernte people, with his birthplace recorded as New Crown station near Finke. By this time, both of his parents had passed away. His household included children Peter and Margaret, while other adult offspring lived elsewhere. Biddy’s background was variously noted as Pananka Aranda and Loritja, born in Hermannsburg, and she was employed as a school cleaner in 1963.

Both Brownie and his son Michael gained recognition for their extensive careers as trackers and for their renowned dogs.

Doolan retired approximately in 1981 and subsequently undertook contract work on the Central Australia Railway close to Finke. He was esteemed as a prominent figure within the local community and was honored in the NT Police News after his death at the age of 92 or 93.