The island was named by Captain William Bligh in 1792 during his second breadfruit voyage to the Pacific, after his distant relative, the Earl of Darnley.

Murray, and eight Lifu (Loyalty Islander) evangelists: Tapeso, Elia, Mataika, Guchong, Kerisidui, Wauaded, Sevine and Josaia, and their wives.

The inscription reads "In loving memory of Dabad 1871: A man who denied his tribal laws and accepted the good news of salvation".

In the early 20th century, the Queensland Government started installing various facilities such as a school, medical aid, post office and an Island Industries Board store.

Carlemo Wacando was among the first to challenge the legal notion of terra nullius, which Australia had posited to support their annexation of traditional lands.

The High Court of Australia ruled in Mabo v Queensland (No 2) (1992) in favor of traditional land ownership of the Torres Strait Islanders, which also applied to Australian aboriginal claims in their territories.

It also seeks to create social enterprises on Darnley Island and other locations where its community members have migrated, such as Cairns.

[19] The Torres Strait Island Regional Council operate an Indigenous Knowledge Centre at Madige Village on Erub.