The district council has existed since 1986 and there have been seven mayors so far.

In 1986, the Queenstown Borough Council merged with the Lake County to form Queenstown-Lakes District Council.

The last mayor of Queenstown Borough, John Davies, was elected as the first mayor of Queenstown-Lakes District.

In 1989, Arrowtown Borough Council amalgamated with Queenstown-Lakes District Council in the 1989 local government reforms.

Some streets and places in Queenstown are named after former borough council mayors; Robertson Street in Frankton, Hallenstein Street, Malaghan Road and Malaghan Street, Warren Park, Hotop Rise, Reid Street, St. Omer Park,[7] Anderson Heights, Robins Road, Grant Road, and Davies Place.