The townsite of Jurien Bay was first gazetted in 1956. The name of Jurien Bay was initially assigned from the French explorer Captain Baudin in 1801 in honour of Charles Marie Vicomte Jurien, the Naval Administrator in the French Government at that time.

As early as the late 1850’s the Governor was petitioned to develop a port along the Dandaragan coastline and in 1865 James Harding, the Fremantle Harbourmaster was commissioned to survey both Cockleshell Gully and Jurien Bay for their suitability as a port facility. He in turn recommended the latter because of its deeper water and protected anchorage. A 100 foot jetty was finally constructed in 1885.

Farming and crayfishing proved to be compatible activities in that their respective seasons tended to complement one another and a number of farmers began to work as both crayfishermen and farmers. Processing plants were established in the 1960’s and the town is now a popular holiday destination.