[1] South Brisbane is Queensland's oldest electorate, being the only one of the original 16 districts to have been contested at every election.

It has generally been considered a safe seat for the Labor Party since 1915, but has in recent election cycles shifted in favour of the Greens.

Anna Bligh, former Premier of Queensland, held the seat from 1995 until her resignation in 2012 after Labor's defeat at the 2012 state election on 24 March.

She was succeeded by fellow Labor member Jackie Trad, who became Deputy Premier in 2015.

Trad held the seat until 2020, when Greens candidate Amy MacMahon defeated her at the second attempt.