Tottenham came into being as a mining town. The first copper mining lease was registered in 1901 and Tottenham was gazetted as a village in 1903. Tottenham is the centre of New South Wales and a Cairn marks the exact central spot. The Cairn is a monument which has been built using slag from the Tottenham mine dumps.

Today the mines have closed and the town is now the hub of a very large cropping and grazing district.

Remains of the Iron Duke Mine can be seen about ten kms south of the town.

Botanist Richard Cunningham, a member of Thomas Mitchell's early exploration party, killed by Aborigines, is buried 20 kms from the town.

The Cairn - The Geographical Centre of New South Wales