The area originally was set up as an Anglican Mission in 1892.
Aboriginal people from the region were gradually drawn or relocated from their traditional lands into the mission settlement. The Gungganydji people were the main group to be settled there. In the 1960s, the Anglican Church relinquished control of the mission. The Department of Aboriginal and Islander Affairs, a government department, under the Act continued running the affairs of the community. On 29 October 1987, under the
Community Services (Aborigines) Act 1984, a
Deed of Grant in Trust was given to the Yarrabah community over the Cape Grafton area. Like other DOGIT communities of the time, Yarrabah had a Community Council elected by Aboriginal people living in the community. == Demographics ==