Charles was born at Euston Square, London, and was apprenticed to the Edwards company, cabinetmakers to the Royal Family, where his father and brother were employed all their lives.
He and his family emigrated to South Australia aboard the steamer Champion in December 1854, and for a time was employed at his trade, producing ornamental work for the Wesleyan Church, Pirie street, and Faulding's chemist shop.
He settled on the town of Waverley, near Sydney, and there on Edgecliffe Road built the "Adelaide Brewery", where he brewed the first beer in December 1874, and was very successful, and in 1875 enlarged the cellars.
Charles left the company after being refused a partnership in the firm, and returned to Adelaide, where he purchased land on West Terrace, and built a small brewery on the Gilbert Street corner, which he (cheekily?)
[6] Mallen & Co. Ltd. owned 13 hotels in and around Adelaide: The Springfield Brewery was established on the site on the corner of Princes Street and Bull's Creek Road, Mitcham around 1938, greatly expanded in 1941.