The village of Alstonville was originally known as “Duck Creek Mountain” after Duck Creek, which flows along the southern edge of town and eventually merges with Emigrant Creek and the Richmond River. The name was given by the Cedar Cutters because of the abundance of wild ducks on the upper tidal reaches of the creek.
It was not until 1865 that the first settlers selected land in the area, then known as the parish of Tuckombil. Some notable settlers in the first five years include those of the Freeborn, Robertson, Graham, Newborn, Crawford, Mellis, and Newton families. In 1873, due to confusion with a different Duck Creek, the first postmaster John Perry changed the name to “Alstonville” after his wife Annie Alston.
By 1883 Alstonville boasted two pubs, six stores, two black-smiths, nine sugar mills, and four saw mills.
