[1] The town is the administrative centre of the Quilpie Shire local government area.

Quilpie is believed to lie on the border of the Bunthamurra and Margany Indigenous Australian tribal areas.

The Margany language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Quilpie Shire, taking in Quilpie, Cheepie and Beechal extending towards Eulo and Thargomindah, as well as the properties of Dynevor Downs and Ardoch.

Due to low student numbers, Duck Creek Provisional School closed in 1905.

[7] Quilpie was gazetted as a town in 1917 owing to the Western railway line that was laid down from Brisbane.

[10] The town and station name were standardised to Quilpie on 16 June 1917 by the Governor in Council.

both 3Q02 and 3V02 were withdrawn in 1994 and replaced by TrainLink bus services Quilpie State School opened on 10 September 1918.

[15] St Finbarr's Catholic Church was officially opened and dedicated on Sunday 14 December 1930 by the Bishop of Toowoomba, James Byrne.

[15] On 15 October 1936, St Matthew's Anglican Church was officially opened and dedicated by Bishop Dixon.

In 2009, the first lay principal, Aaron Wells, was appointed and the administration of the school passed from the Sisters to the Catholic Education Office of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Toowoomba who operate the school in the Mary MacKillop tradition (MacKillop being the founder of the Sisters of St Joseph).

Around 14% of the population of Quilpie identity as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and around 2% were born outside Australia.

[28] In the 2021 census, the locality of Quilpie had a population of 451 people with 16.2% identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.

Boulder opal, oil and gas mining are major secondary industries for the local economy.

The majority of the employees of these industries are local residents, with low rates of both unemployment and itinerant work.

Quilpie residents enjoy free access to many amenities including a post office, the town library, swimming pool, golf course, museum, sports grounds, an air-conditioned hall and supper room etc.

The Brick Hotel has been restored to house displays of opal and art and provide a community learning space.

[32] The Quilpie branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association has its rooms at 17 Brolga Street.