Charles Sutherland was born in Dandenong, Victoria, the son of a bank manager and was educated at Melbourne Grammar School and Melbourne University. After graduating he was RMO at the Hospital for Sick Children, Brisbane. After two years in general practice he went to England, obtained his MRCP in 1924 and returned to Australia that year.

He became clinical assistant to Dr Ivan Maxwell at the Melbourne Hospital, but his main occupation was in allergy research under the direction of Dr JP Mackeddie at the Baker Institute of the Alfred Hospital. Dr Maxwell was a pioneer in allergy and Dr Mackeddie was instrumental in having the first allergy clinic in Australia started at the Alfred Hospital in 1927, with Dr Sutherland the physician in charge.

Sutherland had already, in 1925, commenced practice in Collins Street as a physician specialising in allergy. Soon he was the lecturer in allergy to pathology students at Melbourne University. In 1936 he married Miss Marjorie Minifie of Toorak. He became a foundation Fellow of The Royal Australasian College of Physicians in 1938, and in 1939 he and Mrs Sutherland left on a world tour. After spending some time visiting various clinics in North America they arrived in England in August 1939. He spent some time at St Mary's Hospital with Dr Freeman, but soon joined the RAMC and eventually became OC medical division, 55 Indian General Hospital, Colombo with the rank of major. He suffered severe dengue fever and was returned to Australia in 1943 and discharged as unfit for further service.

In spite of his duties at the Alfred Hospital and in his own practice, Dr Sutherland engaged in research at the biochemistry department of Melbourne University with Professor VM Trikojus and the technique he developed in the preparation of house-dust extract was standard practice for years afterwards. He was honoured by an invitation to work at the California Institute of Technology, which he accepted, in 1950. He had great satisfaction in working with people like Linus Pauling, Campbell and Zechmeister. Dr Sutherland's gentle manner and speech covered a tremendous energy. He was the moving spirit in starting a section of allergy within the AMA and in 1954 was concerned in the foundation of the Australian Society of Allergists of which he was the first president. This was the precursor of the present Australian College of Allergy.

Sutherland was a member of the Melbourne Club, the Naval and Military Club and the Royal Melbourne Golf Club. However his great joy came via the Wallaby Club which was a walking club and included names like Sir John Monash, Sir Macfarlane Burnet and Sir Owen Dixon. In 1955 ill health forced him to retire from the Alfred Hospital and from his original practice in Collins Street, which he left in the hands of his old friend, EW Chenoweth. However he had a small practice in South Yarra where he saw patients with difficult allergy problems. There several colleagues would visit him regularly to discuss problems and seek his advice. He gave generously of his knowledge and experience.