[4] The first European to visit was Ernest Giles who explored the area in 1874, the first settlers and cattle stations were established nearly a decade later.

The police station was built to combat Aboriginal resistance against pastoralists in the area, mostly by spearing cattle.

Once spearing stock stopped the police station was used as an administration centre for the distribution of rations to Aboriginal people.

[4] Mounted Constable Ernest Cowle led the younger members of the Horn Expedition across the Lake Amadeus saltpan to Uluru and then return across the McDonnell Ranges in 1894.

This work was later described by John Mulvaney, considered the "father of Australian archaeology", as one of Australia's most influential books in the history of ideas", and he gave much credit to Cowle and also Paddy Byrne, telegraphist at Charlotte Waters.