Lying within the locality is the former site of Collingwood (22°19′58″S 142°32′6″E / 22.33278°S 142.53500°E / -22.33278; 142.53500), a town that lost out in regional competition to its neighbour, Winton.

The region in which Middleton lies is a circular zone that has been shown to be a crustal anomaly.

Scientists from Geoscience Australia believe that it is an impact structure formed by an asteroid that struck the area about 300 million years ago.

[3][4][5][6] The Middleton Hotel was established at the creek crossing as a Cobb & Co changing station on the route between Winton and Boulia.

[17] The town has been mostly abandoned and now consists of the Middleton Hotel, campground and the disused hall.