The island group was named by James Cook during his historic voyage along Australia's eastern seaboard in 1770, after the First Duke of Northumberland, Hugh Percy.

[2] Both Cook and Matthew Flinders make note of the island group in their journals, Cook describing them as such: As soon as we got round the Cape [Cape Townshend] we hauld our wind to the Westward in order to get within the Islands which lay scatter'd up and down in this bay [Shoalwater Bay] in great number, and extend out to Sea as far as we could see from the Masthead; how much farther will hardly be in my power to determine; they are as Various in their height and Circuit as they are numerous.

[3]In 1855, a botany expedition led by naturalist Frederick Strange visited the islands on his ship Vision.

Captain Chimmo of the Royal Navy vessel HMS Torch, sailed to the island and conducted an investigation.

One child died in custody and the rest were eventually shipped back to Gladstone.