The first encounters between white people and the Aboriginal people of this area occurred in the 1800’s. From 1818 to the 1860’s, explorers visited the traditional territory of these people but made no attempt to communicate with them.

As a result of favourable reports from the explorers, settlers began to take up pastoral leases in the 1870’s. The arrival of European settlers and the establishment of the pearling industry at Shark Bay and Cossack led to the introduction of diseases such as influenza and small pox. The Aboriginal population had no resistance to these diseases and so died in large numbers.

The pearling industry also had disastrous effects on the Aboriginal people. Pearlers kidnapped Aborigines to force them to work on the pearling boats, moving gradually inland from the coast as the demand for labour increased and disease wiped out the available work force. Aborigines were often taken as far away as 200 miles from their traditional country, and were then abandoned there at the end of their services.

In the 1870’s and 1880’s, pastoralists settled in the area, in the face of strong opposition from the local Aborigines. This often violent resistance continued for many years, despite attempts by whites to subdue the natives. Punitive court judgements were implemented whereby offenders were punished or transported to Carnarvon and even Rottnest Island west of Perth. Indentured labour was introduced so that people were bound to a particular outback station. This scheme was eventually successful in destroying Aboriginal resistance by breaking up families, groups and the traditional authority structures.

Diseases spread by white settlers, such as influenza, measles, diphtheria, hepatitis and diarrhoea not only affected the health of individuals but also damaged the future population as women’s fertility was greatly affected.

In 1908 Lock Hospitals were established on Bernier and Doore Islands off the coast of Carnarvon. People suspected of having venereal disease were forcibly removed from their homes in chains by police and taken to these "hospitals". Here they were given minimal shelter and provisions and were forced to build roads and accommodation for the white staff. Dozens of people died on the islands in loneliness and misery, far from their families and traditional country.

The presence of white settlers in this area led to a severe decrease in the Aboriginal population and disruption to their traditional lifestyle. However, there is some evidence that even as late as the time of the first world war, people were still living a semi-traditional lifestyle within the demands of the pastoral industry and the wider white society.

Also despite the loss of many Aboriginal people, Aboriginal languages, with a few exceptions, continued to be spoken on the stations and people grew up bilingual in English and one or more Aboriginal languages. In the 1950’s migration from the stations to the towns of Carnarvon and Onslow increased. This is where most descendants of the Aboriginal people of this area now live. To a greater or lesser extent, they are absorbed into the wider Australian society.

The languages of these people continued to be spoken until the death of the last fluent speakers over the past decade. Younger people and children can recognise words and expressions in the languages and there has been an increasing interest in them, especially with the development of independent Aboriginal organisations. Unlike the neighbouring Kanyara languages however, Mantharta languages are not taught in schools and there seems little prospect of them being introduced there.