The district was named after and included the town of Wilcannia. Prior to 1889 Wilcannia was part of the district of Wentworth. The population in Wentworth had grown significantly since the 1880 redistribution, especially as a result of the growth of mining at Broken Hill.
Wilcannia was part of the named district before 1889, which also encompassed Wentworth. Since the 1880 redistribution, Wentworth's population had grown substantially, primarily because of mining development in the area around Broken Hill.