Harry, who was born on 15 February 1876 in Spitalfields, London, migrated to Western Australia in 1888 and started making confectionery in 1917 at the back of his Manly Corso fruit shop.

In 1992, the Darrell Lea chocolate factory at Kogarah was rebuilt with modern machinery after a fire in the previous year.

The company was reported to be losing $200,000 a week,[2] and half of its company-run stores were closed immediately, with the loss of nearly 200 jobs.

[2] Darrell Lea products continued to be sold through its licensed retailer network[3] which was expanded into IGA, Coles and Woolworths.

[5][6] Darrell Lea has sponsored a local high school in order to assist students in continuing their studies to completion, and has supported The Lorna Hodgkinson Sunshine Home which employs people with severe intellectual disability.

Additionally, the company helps organisations such as the Starlight Foundation, Variety Club, and other local youth groups.