It was named on 10 August 1861 by the surveyor and explorer Frank Gregory while on expedition in the area, after Thomas Newte Yule, at times farmer of Toodyay, winemaker, Acting Colonial Secretary and Magistrate.

[3] The headwaters of the river rise in the Abydos Plain between the Chichester Range and the Mungaroona Range in the Scientific Reserve then flow in a north-westerly direction crossing the North West Coastal Highway approximately 60 kilometres (37 mi) south of Port Hedland then discharging into the Indian Ocean near Cape Thouin.

The river also occasionally floods, particularly in 1975 when Cyclone Joan inundated the catchment area.

The flood flow discharge was estimated at 22,000 cubic metres per second (780,000 cu ft/s) at the river's peak.

[6] The Yule River Borefield has been in operation as one of the sources supplying the town of Port Hedland with drinking water.