[3] It occupies the north-western corner of the cadastral Hundred of Apoinga.

[4] The area was originally the territory of the Ngadjuri people.

[5] It was named after the Koonoona Station and Merino stud, which was established in 1863 by Walter Duffield and T. S.

[6][7] Koonoona Station was described in 1929 as "one of the oldest estates in this district" and "noted for the breed of its merino sheep"; another correspondent in 1933 labelled it "one of the most important [Merino studs] in the Commonwealth".

[8][7] Koonoona Provisional School opened in 1894, was declared half-time with Gum Creek in 1903, and closed in 1915.