The town name is said to be an Aboriginal word meaning "Crown scenes on the Moon for tribal reasons" or "native decorated with scars".[2]
Ganmain takes its name from Ganmain Run, a cattle station established in 1838, by settler James Devlin.
Boggy Creek Post Office opened on 10 December 1888, was renamed Derry in 1894 and Ganmain later the same year.[3]
In 1973, the Ganmain Historical Society was opened by six local families.
Today
Ganmain is the self-proclaimed "Sheaf Hay centre of Australia"[4] and has produced chaff for many leading racehorse trainers in Australia. The Big Haystack in Pioneer Park reflects this background.
The town has two primary schools, Ganmain Public School and St. Brendan's Catholic Primary School.