[4] Hartkopf attended Scotch College, Melbourne from 1897 to 1909,[5] attracting attention as a cricketer,[6] footballer, and, especially, a star schoolboy athlete:[7] After Scotch College, Hartkopf studied medicine at the University of Melbourne, and graduated Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) on 17 April 1915.

In 1911, Hartkopf cemented his position as one of Australia's best all-round sportsmen by becoming the Victorian state 440 yards champion and making his first-class cricket debut for Victoria on 23 December 1911 against New South Wales at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, scoring an unbeaten 42 and a duck and taking 2/20 with his leg break bowling.

In November 1924, an unbeaten half century for Victoria against the touring English side led to his selection, at age 35, in the Australian team for the second Test of the 1924/25 series against England at the MCG.

Batting at number 8, Hartkopf scored 80 in Australia's first innings but could only produce match figures of 1/134 and was dropped from the team.

Albert Hartkopf died in Kew, Victoria, on 20 May 1968, after a long battle with rheumatoid arthritis.