[1][4][5] Frances began as a government town first surveyed in July 1871 and then resurveyed in January.

Its name is reported as being derived from the name of the wife of "Mr Henry Jones of Binnum Station."

[9] Despite the closure of the railway on 12 April 1995, Frances continues to be a receiving point for grain, with several silos.

[11] It also set a new record for the most grain received in a single day at the site.

[13][14] Frances is located within the federal division of Barker, the state electoral district of MacKillop and the local government area of the Naracoorte Lucindale Council.