[1] The district around Holbrook is renowned for local produce including merino wool, wheat and other grains, lucerne, fat cattle and lamb.

The town was originally called Ten Mile Creek and the first buildings were erected in 1836.

By 1858 the name had evolved into the official name of Germanton, though the postal area retained the name Ten Mile Creek.

Ten Mile Creek Post Office opened on 1 January 1857, and was renamed Germanton in 1875.

[5] During World War I, the town name was deemed unpatriotic so on 24 August 1915 the town was renamed Holbrook in honour of Lt. Norman Douglas Holbrook, a decorated wartime submarine captain and winner of the Victoria Cross.

[11][12] Garryowen was a property and small settlement on Little Billabong Creek, about 13 kilometres (8 mi) north-east of Holbrook, in the mid 19th century.

[15] It is also home to the Holbrook Cricket Club which plays in the local district association.

In the 1930s, the town was part of the route of the annual John Woodman Memorial bicycle handicap race organised by the Albury Wodonga Cycling Club.

Through negotiations with the scrap yard in Sydney, the town succeeded in purchasing all of the outside casing of Otway above the waterline.

This part of the Otway is now displayed in Germanton Park in the heart of Holbrook, having been dedicated on 7–8 June 1997.

[16][17] The National Museum of Australian Pottery is housed in the old A. H. Mackie and Company building.

It features over 1500 pieces made from the earliest colonial potteries up to the end of World War I.

English was the only language spoken at home by 95.3% of those in the Holbrook local statistical area compared with 80% of Australians.

During the week prior to Census Night 2001, 1021 people in Holbrook statistical local area were employed, representing 96% of the labour force.

Across Australia 9% of people were employed as Managers and Administrators; 12% as Associate Professionals and 17% as Intermediate Clerical, Sales and Service Workers.

The median weekly individual income for people aged 15 years and over in the 2001 Census was $300–$399.