Weymouth Bay was significant in the exploration of the Cape York Peninsula by Edmund Kennedy in 1848. During their journey north from Rockingham Bay (near the present-day town of Cardwell), Kennedy left eight members of the expedition at Weymouth Bay, intending to pick them up later on the return by sea. However Kennedy and all but one member died later during the journey; all but two of the eight members left at Weymouth Bay died before they were relieved.[4]