By the late 1800s, several settlements had sprung up along the Discovery Coast: Rosedale and Wartburg in the south, the 12 square miles property named Agnes Water south of Cook's landing site, the Bustard Bay lighthouse with its separate living quarters, Turkey Beach and Rodds Harbour Stations.

The main local industries were timber cutting and cattle and sheep grazing. Today, cattle grazing exists as the only pastoral industry with tourism gathering momentum as the main industry of the future.

The first settler in the district which is now the Discovery Coast was John Little and his family.

Oakley Ford was responsible for starting the Ambulance Centre in 1922

They came from Ireland in the early 1840's and after several turbulent years here which took them from Queensland to Sydney and back they finaly took possession of land now known as Rosedale in 1853.

Alice and Thomas Dawson,
early settlers

James Little, youngest son of John, donated this church in 1923