[11] It was established during the Second World War as the railhead of the North Australia Railway and a significant site for troop movements and military supplies.

[11] John McDouall Stuart explored the Larrimah area in the 1860s on his transcontinental journey from Flinders Range[11] but did not settle or establish a town.

[18] The railway transported troops and materials to and from the northern Australia war zone and was a vital link with Darwin for those living in remote communities[20] as communication between Birdum and Alice Springs was otherwise only available via the Stuart Highway.

[22] In 1942, a repeater station was built from two Sydney Williams huts to provide direct communications with other sites including Tennant Creek and Newcastle Waters.

[22] Gorrie Airfield was established at the end of the North Australia Railway line, 10 km from the Larrimah town centre.

[25] These "special settlements" established from Larrimah to Darwin became meeting grounds for Aboriginal people from Alice Springs, Victoria River and the Arnhem Land.

[26] The diverse groups of Aboriginal people shared work and duties with each other and played cards together, emphasising their status as part of the wider army system.

[27] Built in 1941 and 1942, the Telephone Repeater Station and Powerhouse, relocated in 1946, were a result of the military's urgent upgrading of the Morse Code overland telegraph line to a direct voice system.

[29] His mother was Mary Teresa Moriarty (died 1995) from Dromtrasna O'Brien, a townland in the west of County Limerick that is located a few miles south-east of Abbeyfeale.

[29] Moriarty said that he had emigrated from Ireland to Australia on the TSS Fairstar at the age of 19, and that he later worked as a station hand, ringer and grader driver.

[30] On 16 December 2017, Moriarty and his dog Kellie left The Pink Panther, Larrimah's local pub, and drove 800 metres home by quadbike.

[30] Northern Territory Legislation did not allow Cavanagh to include a finding or comment that a person may be guilty but he said, "However, I will refer this investigation to the Commissioner of Police and the DPP.

[33] The Walkley Award winning Australian crime podcast Lost in Larrimah,[34][35] released in April–May 2018, explored the mystery of Moriarty's disappearance, as well as the town's history, including feuds within the small community.