Originally created in 1974, the ward was initially within Cumnock and Doon Valley District Council before the local government reforms in the 1990s.
The ward was a Labour stronghold as the party successfully held the seat at every election after gaining it from the Conservatives in 1977 until it was abolished.
In 2007, the ward was abolished and replaced by the multi-member Ballochmyle ward as council elections moved to a proportional voting system – the single transferable vote – following the implementation of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004.
The ward centered around the town of Mauchline and took in the northwestern part of Cumnock and Doon Valley between its borders with Kilmarnock and Loudoun District Council and Kyle and Carrick District Council.
In 1998, the Third Statutory Reviews of Electoral Arrangements reduced the area the ward covered as the eastern part of the town between Sorn Road and Welton Road alongside the area covered by Ballochmyle Golf Course was moved to the newly created Catrine, Sorn and Mauchline East ward ahead of the 1999 election.