Ernest Hillier moved from England to San Francisco, California, United States, in the early 1900s to learn the confectionery and soda trade.

In 1911, he opened the first soda fountain[citation needed] in Australia, "Hillier Refreshment Services", at the Imperial Skating Rink.

Because of the success of the soda fountain, Hillier was put in charge of catering at the amusement park at Rushcutters Bay, New South Wales.

In the wake of the Great Depression, chocolate sales dramatically declined in Sydney; in response, Hillier moved his business to Melbourne, Victoria.

The firm were unable to turn the chocolatier around and placed it in to voluntary administration in January 2015, citing rising cocoa prices and increased competition.