[6][7] The area was settled by European pastoralists in the 19th century but the community was established in 1901 when the state government built a ration depot at Turkey Creek.

A coroner's inquest held at Turkey Creek acquitted Rhatigan of any wrongdoing, while Nipper was ordered to face trial for the murder of eight people.

[12] His son, John Rhatigan, became a long serving Labor Party politician in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly.

[13] Devastating flash flooding occurred in March 2011, affecting most of the houses, the school, the clinic, and the Warmun Art Centre, including its new gallery.

The artworks were returned to the art centre in June 2013,[15] after the building had been rebuilt, located on a riverbank opposite the residential area.

[23] The primary goal of the centre is "the conservation of culturally and socially significant objects and knowledge systems", using art to achieve this.

[25] Artists at the centre are known for their distinctive style, using ochre and other natural pigments on canvas to represent traditional Dreaming stories as well as everyday life of the people.

[25] The typical style is described as "simple and uncluttered, painted with natural ochre, with shapes being defined by rows of white dots".

The Gija artists' work often includes topographical maps in painted with ochre, sometimes using gum gathered from local bloodwood trees as a fixative.