It occurs throughout extratropical Australia, and has been recorded in every mainland state except the Northern Territory.

[1] The origin of the genus is thought to be south-western Western Australia, radiating eastward.

Very few are widespread across Australia; none occurs in the Nullarbor Plain and only seven are found on both the western and the south-eastern sides.

The formation of the Nullarbor is thought to have created a barrier to dispersal between the east and west.

[3] It is estimated that the family Elaeocarpaceae is 120 million years old and Tetratheca estimated to be around 37 to 39 million years old, with major diversification over the Miocene and evolving much faster than their relatives, many of which are rainforest species.