Named after Scottish explorer John McDouall Stuart, it was initially created in 1947 as one of the five inaugural electoral divisions of the Northern Territory Legislative Council.

It was an almost entirely rural electorate encompassing much of the western Territory, covering 383,859 km2 and taking in the towns of Dagaragu, Lajamanu, Willowra, Yuendumu, and part of the north-eastern side of Alice Springs.

It was originally easily held by the Country Liberal Party, but became much friendlier to Labor when a 1983 redistribution removed most of the Alice Springs area of the electorate.

As a result of the redistribution, sitting CLP member Roger Vale, who had held it since its creation, followed most of his Alice Springs constituents into the then-new seat of Braitling.

Hampton's primary vote more than halved, and Price defeated him on a two-party swing of 18.6 percent amid the ALP's meltdown in the remote portions of the Territory.