Hi I grew up during the 1950s - 1960s into 70s as a young adult. So the pie carts in the city were the norm for me and we often would have them during intermission from a local dance in the region of Victoria Square, out from a dance on a Saturday night.
I always thought they were unique to SA until in 1970 while my husband was stationed up in Townsville Qld, and I lived there for about 10 months there was a pie cart pulled behind a Ute all through the army married quarters in Heatley, Vincent and Garbut
This was comprised of a wood stocked oven on a trailer, he sold lots of things, but amongst them was the classic pie floater, whether the Queensland folk had them normally, or whether it was because a lot of the Army guys may have come from SA and requested these I don't know? But it is the only time I have seen them outside our state. This cart was a welcome site each day as we woman mostly didn't have cars, and there was no corner shop to go buy treats for the kids, so when he arrived it was an easy meal for the mums and kids.
Christine - 22nd November 2012