The settlement was established by the South Australia Company, and was originally called Philptown after founding publican Oliver Philp.

First settled early in the 1840s, the township was laid out after the opening of the North East Road in the 1850s.

By this time, the town was reported to include two post office buildings, institute, church, service station, a handful of cottages and the old Morning Star Hotel.

[9] Little more than a cemetery exists as a reminder of Chain of Ponds, though it appears on maps as a navigation point.

A coach is operated from Tea Tree Plaza Interchange to Gumeracha and Mount Pleasant by LinkSA.