The son of a Polish refugee, Robert Broinowski attended Milson's Point Primary School and completed his education at the Jesuit high school, St Aloysius. He began his long career with the public service in 1902 when he joined the Department of Defence. He joined the staff of the Federal Senate in 1911 and was clerk of the Senate on his retirement in 1942.
Broinwoski was a prolific reader and was a member of various Melbourne organisations such as the Repertory Theatre Club and the Melbourne Literary Club. He published a number of poems in the latter's magazine Birth and was the poetry editor for Stead's Review in the early 1920s. After Birth ceased operation in 1922, Broinowski established the Spinner to continue providing a place for verse rejected by mainstream magazines. The magazine ceased operation in 1927 when Broinowski moved to Canberra, Australia's new seat of government.
Broinowski was a regular broadcaster for the ABC and other commercial radio stations, giving talks on a variety of topics, including music, literature and children's interests. After his retirement from the public service he moved to Sydney and continued working on radio programs such as 'Stump the Experts' with George Mackaness. He also recorded a number of children's stories. After moving many times during the 1950s, Broinowski settled in Lindfield where he died in August 1959 after a long illness.
