Originally a railway siding for the railway line when constructed in 1913, the town was developed privately before being gazetted in 1951.
The town is named after the Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton.[3]
The local Agricultural Hall was officially opened in 1920 by Mr. H. Griffiths MLA; it was built on land provided by Dr. Germyn.[4]
The Bankwest branch in the town claimed to be the world's smallest bank. The building measures 3 by 4 metres (10 by 13 ft), but was closed in 1997.[5]