It is named after Lake Kurwongbah.The district is based in the City of Moreton Bay.

The seat was first contested at the 1992 state election, essentially as a reconfigured version of Pine Rivers.

[2] In 2008, Kurwongbah was abolished—with effect at the 2009 state election—as a result of the redistribution undertaken by the Electoral Commission of Queensland.

It was replaced by a recreated Pine Rivers, which is very similar in form to the old Kurwongbah.

In the 2017 redistribution, Kurwongbah was created again, largely replacing the abolished seat of Kallangur.