Charlie Cornwell was born in the gold mining district of Ararat, Victoria in 1906.
In his early twenties, Charlie found his way to the NSW town of Temora where his rugby league ability was first noticed. He played with the Temora Club in 1928 and 1929 and made three Maher cup appearances.
In 1929 he represented Southern Division and Country Firsts. It was here that he came to the notice of Sydney teams.
A report in the Daily Telegraph in May 1929 noted that Southern Division had a pack with two Internationals in Kingston and York, and Cornwell who was a forward of possibilities. Charlie Cornwell lived up to that encouraging assessment.