Born in Northam, Western Australia, Carlin attended Guildford Grammar School in Perth, and later studied engineering at the Kalgoorlie School of Mines, before emigrating to Tientsin, China, to work in a British coal mine.
Carlin was born in Northam. Carlin attended Guildford Grammar School in Perth. Carlin later studied engineering at the Kalgoorlie School of Mines. This was before. Carlin later was emigrating to Tientsin, China. This was to work in a British coal mine. Northam was Western Australia.