Prior to European settlement, the Lockyer Valley region was home to the Kitabul Aboriginal people.

[citation needed] With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, the borough and divisions became a town and shires respectively on 31 March 1903.

[6] The council purchased freehold land adjoining the existing town for the voluntary resettlement of eligible residents.

[6] To speed the recovery process normal land use planning procedures were dropped although there was a public consultation period.

Support from the state government was muted, partly because the new urban development was contrary to the South East Queensland Regional Plan.

[citation needed] The council has also responded to floods by installing a network of cameras around the region which can be viewed by members of the public on a web page.