Belmore is named after the fourth Earl of Belmore, Governor of New South Wales from 1868-1872. The area was known as Darkwater in its early days. Some of the first land grants in 1810 were to Richard Robinson east of Sharp Street and Kingsgrove Road and to Thomas Mansfield, to the west. Francis Wild and John Sullivan were each granted in 1823. The area was originally used for market gardens and orchards. Subdivision started after the railway came through in 1895.