The first settlement in the area was in early 1863 when P. K. Bracken, Thomas Crawley and John Groves built the Dome Pass Accommodation House, known as the Jolly Waggoners.

[1] This was just north of the junction of the roads from Riverton, Invercargill and Dunedin and was a popular resting place for waggoners as a night of good fun and a jolly time could be enjoyed.

Over the years a number of company managers were based at Eyre Creek before the homestead block was sold to John Gibson in 1902.

[6] The current Eyre Creek Station, a small remnant of the original, has its homestead closer to Athol.

The Kingston Branch railway opened through the area on 28 January 1878 and soon after a siding was built at Eyre Creek.