Early records in South Australia state that the pie floater was reputedly born in Port Pirie conceived by one Ern "Shorty" Bradley in 1890s, but it remains unknown if he did and how it came about.

[10] Pie-carts are typically a form of caravan/trailer/cart, originally horse-drawn, with an elongated "window" along one or both sides where customers could sit or (more usually) stand to eat their purchases.

[citation needed] In the Adelaide city centre in the 1880s, there were 13 pie-carts operating in King William Street and North Terrace.

In 2007, the Glenelg tram line was extended from Victoria Square along King William Street and North Terrace past Adelaide railway station, and the Balfour's pie-cart was forced to close.

[citation needed] The pie floater was recognised as a South Australian Heritage Icon by the National Trust of South Australia,[12] although it is now available at very few locations; among them are the Café de Vilis, Enjoy Bakery on Norwood Parade,[13] O'Connell Street Bakery, North Adelaide and the Upper Sturt General Store.