According to state government records the name is likely derived from either the politician James Hutchison (1898-1902) or Commander John Hutchison RN "who carried out extensive surveys of South Australian seaboard for the Admiralty from 1861–1869."

Its extent includes the township of Tumby Bay and much of the surrounding locality as well as a small eastern portion of the locality of Yallunda Flat in the northwest.

[1] In 1888 the Hundred of Hutchison was annexed to the District Council of Lincoln as part of the District Councils Act 1887.

[2] In 1906 the hundred, along with its northern and western neighbours, seceded to form the new District Council of Tumby Bay.

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