Its name is derived from the cadastral unit of the Hundred of Moockra which is of Aboriginal origin and is ultimately derived from “a large rock on top of a hill” in the locality called the Moockra Tower.

[1][10] The locality consists of the full extent of the cadastral unit of the Hundred of Moockra which itself covers an area of 210 square kilometres (81 sq mi) with parts of the following adjoining hundreds - Boolcunda in the north-west, Palmer to the west, Coonatto to the south, and Yanyarrie and Eurelia to the east.

[8][6][7][1] The Government Town of Coonatto was proclaimed on 7 February 1884 and is located in the Hundred of Coonatto to the immediate east of the site of the former Moockra Railway Station which closed on 4 April 1987 and which was a stop on the Peterborough–Quorn railway line.

[1][5][11][12][13][14] The Government Town of Hawkshaw was proclaimed on 23 November 1882 and is located in Section 49 of the Hundred of Moockra.

The South Australian historian, Geoffrey Manning, suggests that it may be named after the English engineer, John Hawkshaw.