George Henry Cooper was born in Wellington after his family traveled to New Zealand in 1841. Some 11 years later, George's oldest brother (Thomas) established an aerated water factory in Mulgrave Street and continued this business until his death in 1867 at which time George took control of the business.

In 1868 the Cooper manufactory was moved from Mulgrave Street to the Cecil Hotel Block, in Thorndon Quay and for many years George Cooper made ginger beer, aerated waters and cordials of all types from this location.

George Cooper died suddenly on 16th August 1883 aged 40. The following notice covering Cooper's death was printed in the Evening Post, 17th August 1883:-

Mr. George Cooper, the well-known cordial maker on Thorndon Quay, expired suddenly yesterday afternoon and an inquest touching the cause of the death will be held at the Thistle Hotel at 4 o'clock today. Shortly after dinner the deceased felt unwell and went to bed. Some time afterwards a servant heard him breathing heavily and on Mrs. Cooper being made aware of the fact she immediately dispatched a messenger for Dr. Grace. Before medical aid could arrive however, the vital spark had fled.

The deceased, who had been in business in Wellington for the past 15 or 16 years, had for some time previous to his death suffered greatly from liver complaint, but his demise was quite unexpected.

He leaves a wife to mourn her loss.

Mrs. Elizabeth Cooper took the business over and became well known for using other manufacturers' bottles. This practice meant she had to purchase fewer numbers of bottles with her own name on them and helps to account for why G. Cooper bottles are relatively hard to come by. Mrs. Cooper did not get away for this activity for long however as an article in the 'New Zealand Mail' on November 17th 1883 outlines a court case in which J.L. Bacon brought an action against Mrs. Cooper for selling lemonade in bottles bearing his registered trade mark. Mrs. Cooper was fined a total of three pounds eight shillings. Some time later she was in court again facing Andrew Hamilton over the use of his Strike & Hamilton bottles.

Mrs. Cooper exhibited at the 1885 N.Z. Industrial Exhibition and won first prize for her exhibit of aerated waters and cordials, also first prize for cordials and second prize for aerated waters.

In April 1888 Mrs. Cooper married Charles William Brodie, a gas fitter from the

Wellington Gas Company and the company name was subsequently changed to C.W. Brodie.