Kewell was named after a pastoral run of John and Alexander Wilson on the Yarriambiack Creek in 1845.

The origin of "Kewell" is believed to be an aboriginal word describing the seeds of the Carpobrotus plant.

[2] In 1897, a tornado ripped through Kewell, causing the roof of the blacksmith's to blow off, and damage to "more or less every building in the place".

[3] The storm uprooted fruit trees and caused the loss of many farmers' crops.

One was run by the Free Presbyterian church, Kewell's main religious affiliation.