After competing at the 1956 Olympic Games held in Melbourne, Australia, along with his wife, they both decided to emigrate, and settled in Melbourne. He continued to compete, in track cycling carnival events, and in 1957, he won the Bendigo Golden Mile wheelrace, beating Russell Mockridge into second place. The following season (1958) he teamed up with Sid Patterson to win the Sydney 6 Day track cycling event. A change of partner (Don Burgess) and the Melbourne Milk 6 Day ended in a 3rd[1] place finish. After retiring from cycle racing, Brotherton began building road and track cycle frames, using the brand name "Petrus".[2]