Rischbieth was born in Neustadt am Rubenberge, near Hanover, Germany and emigrated to South Australia, arriving in 1854, with a number of young German migrants. He worked for a time in the drapery of R. B. Lucas in Hindley Street, but was hampered by his imperfect English. He next worked for McArthur, Kingsborough and Co., He and Carl Bolk were admitted into the partnership of G. & R. Wills & Co., and a few years later married Elizabeth Susan Wills, a niece of George and Richard Wills. In 1869, he succeeded Robert Alfred Tarlton as managing director of the company. In 1875 Rischbieth retired from active management of G. & R. Wills & Co., but continued to act as an agent for George Wills, who had long before returned to London. Rischbieth was a Director of the Commercial Bank of South Australia at the time of its collapse.
Pastoralist
In 1875 Rischbieth and partners began the development of Coralbignie Station in the Gawler Ranges and Mount Nor'-West near Farina.
Family
He married Elizabeth Susan Wills on 2 July 1862; they lived at "Kolendo", Farrell Street, Glenelg. She died at Acton Vale, Port Elliot. Their children included:
Marie Louise Rischbieth
Charles Frederick Rischbieth married Nellie Mary Newman, a maternal cousin, on 3 May 1894
Elizabeth Susan "Lillie" Rischbieth married accountant George Arthur Jury on 9 September 1890. She was his second wife, his first, Mary née Wiedenhofer, having taken her own life.
Edith Constance Rischbieth, founder of the Mitcham Dogs' Home, later amalgamated with the RSPCA South Australia
Harold Rischbieth MD, FRCS married Eileen May de la Poer Beresford, a granddaughter of John Acraman, on 3 May 1916
Edgar Walters Rischbieth
Norman Rischbieth
Hilda Rischbieth married Leslie Gardner Stock on 21 June 1906, and second husband, Hector Norman Uphill, in June 1921
Ernest August Rischbieth married Jean Osborne Lathlean on 7 August 1917
A brother, Heinrich Carl Rischbieth emigrated shortly after Charles, living at Mount Gambier. He had six sons and two daughters. One of Heinrich's sons was the geographer Oswald Rishbeth. Nephew Karl Rischbieth was partner in Dettmer & Rischbieth.
