Rockhampton’s history is deeply connected to the traditional custodians of the land, the Darumbal Aboriginal people. The Capricorn district, where Rockhampton now sits, is part of the Darumbal language region, which extends across the city and surrounding areas. Neighboring Indigenous groups such as the Gangulu also have ties to parts of Rockhampton and nearby towns.

European colonisation began in the early 1850s when the Archer brothers, Charles and William, arrived seeking grazing lands. Their arrival followed earlier explorations by Ludwig Leichhardt and Thomas Mitchell, who had identified the area’s potential for agriculture and settlement. In 1854, the New South Wales government officially proclaimed new districts encompassing the region, paving the way for the Archers to establish a pastoral run at Gracemere in 1855.

The Fitzroy River played a crucial role in the settlement’s growth, serving as a vital transport route for supplies and produce. The name "Rockhampton" was coined by Charles Archer and local official William Wiseman, inspired by a natural rocky bar on the river that limited further upstream navigation.

Scottish settlers like the Elliott brothers also arrived around this time, expanding landholdings and contributing to the area's development. However, early colonisation was marred by violent conflict. In 1856, a massacre of local Aboriginal people near Nankin Creek by Native Police under Lieutenant John Murray led to retaliatory clashes involving settlers and Indigenous groups, resulting in multiple deaths on both sides.

The first permanent British settlement at Rockhampton was established in July 1856, marked by the construction of a Native Police barracks and a store on the Fitzroy River’s south bank. The fertile grazing lands and abundant water encouraged rapid expansion, and by 1858, Rockhampton was officially proclaimed a town and surveyed.

In 1859, gold was discovered at nearby Canoona, triggering a rush that transformed Rockhampton into a vital regional port. Although the goldfield was less productive than hoped, the influx of miners and settlers helped cement Rockhampton’s status as a growing frontier town. Many miners stayed behind, contributing to the city’s expanding population and laying the foundations for its future as a cultural and economic hub in Central Queensland.