The town was gazetted in April 1912. There is some debate as to the Aboriginal meaning of the name, although one settler noted that the Aboriginal name for Hines Hill, 8 kilometres (5 mi) to the east, is "Baandui".[2]
In 1932, the Wheat Pool of Western Australia announced that the town would have two wheat elevators on two new wheat bins, each fitted with an engine, installed at the railway siding.[3] The installation of at least one elevator was completed early the following year.[4]