Bidyadanga was officially created by the establishment of La Grange Mission in 1955 although it was settled around 1889 when a telegraph station was built at La Grange Bay. This station linked cables to Broome, Marble Bar and Perth. In 1931 the West Australian government set aside approximately 180 ha of land near a traditional meeting ground for a reserve and ration depot for Aboriginal people which was later taken over and managed as a Catholic Mission.
The first Aboriginal people near La Grange were the Nadja-Nadja (salt-water people who spoke the Karajarri language). The Mangala, Yulparija, Juwaliny and Nyangumarta people came to La Grange from the desert and the coast.
The last Superintendent of La Grange Depot was Jan de Grys, who ran the post office and helped the local people build houses and supply government rations of flour, oatmeal, sugar, salt, tea, and tobacco. Francis de Grys was the wife of Jan and she worked as a nurse as well as teaching the children.
During this time, there were two camps at La Grange; one was Karajarri and the other Udialla who were moved to La Grange in 1948 by the government when the Udialla post was closed down. The Udialla mob included Mangala and Juwaliny language groups. Then when the Mission opened a mission school, the Nyangumarta people from Anna Plains relocated and the children began attending the school.
In 1961, Father McKelson came to be the parish priest. Father McKelson stayed for over 30 years and was instrumental in translating all five languages into English. He would speak in language at weekly services and was considered a true local, genuinely respected by his congregation.