 It was established to supply labour to the Geraldine Lead Mine, north of the site on the Murchison River, and to local settlers.The depot was closed by order of Governor Kennedy on 3 January 1857 due to the high cost to the government of its maintenance.By 1856 a store, bakery, depot, lockup, hospital, lime kiln and administration block had all been built but a lack of fresh vegetables had seen the convict population ravaged by scurvy.