The Aboriginal name for Ellery Big Hole is Udepata, and the permanent water made it a special meeting place for the Arrarnta people on the fish and honey ant dreaming trails.

Sites of permanent water were extremely important to Aboriginal people. In times of drought these few permanent waterholes were the only source of water in the surrounding areas. In years of low rainfall a wide variety of wildlife congregate in and around these important areas. If the food resources were used up in these areas the tribe would face extinction. Food and water resources were managed very carefully during drought times. Neighbouring tribal groups would often help in these years but droughts in Central Australia often extent over the whole region. If one tribe was affected, it would be fairly certain that neighbouring tribes were in a similar position.