Located at a narrows of Lake Timiskaming, Duhamel-Ouest is home to the Fort Témiscamingue, a National Historic Site of Canada.

Originally inhabited by Algonquin people, the area began to see Coureurs des bois in the middle of the 17th century, travelling on the Ottawa River and Lake Timiskaming.

In 1720, Fort Témiscamingue was founded by French merchants on the east side of the lake.

In the middle of the 19th century, colonization started with the arrival of logging companies and Oblate missionaries.

"Ouest" (French for "west") was added to distinguish it from Duhamel in the Outaouais Region.