The area was officially defined as a suburb in April 2007, adopting the name from the former railhead settlement north of the Katherine River.

[3] Emungalan was surveyed in 1917, when works to extend the Palmerston and Pine Creek Railway south to the Katherine River neared completion.

A small cemetery adjacent to the abandoned North Australia Railway line is the most intact reminder of the former settlement and is listed on the Northern Territory Heritage Register.

The suburb has been identified as a future focus for further industrial development and medium term planning calls for upgrades to water and sewerage allowing residential subdivision.

[6] Kalano Aboriginal community is located in the east of the suburb, as is the Katherine Town Council administrative chambers.