[6] The area was populated by the Thaua Aboriginal people, with shell middens dating back 3000 years.

[7] Captain John Lloyd, RN, acquired land in 1844 with his severance pay when he left the Royal Navy, and built The Grange on the hill near the river.

[14] The main land uses were grazing and agriculture, and tented accommodation on stock routes was replaced by slab and bark huts, then by more permanent buildings providing homes, housing, smithies, and hotels.

Pambula continued to be the dominant town of the district, providing facilities which came to include commercial premises, banks, courthouse, hospital, newspaper, and a school of arts.

Agriculture developed on the river flats, producing prize crops of maize and potatoes, and a dairying industry became established.

Panboola contains fresh water billabongs, saline areas around the former racecourse, saltmarsh and mangroves, plantings of thousands of trees, shrubs and ground covers, walking and cycle tracks and tables and seats.

The Merimbula-Pambula Bulldogs, though named Merimbula are based in Pambula, founded in 1924 they compete in the Group 16 Rugby League Premiership.