[3] The origin of the suburb name is from a description of the area provided by Major Edmund Lockyer whilst exploring in a boat along the Brisbane River.

[5] In the late 1850s, the first farmers in the area settled on the river flats situated to the north of the current railway station.

This settlement featured a brickworks, sawmill, stores, cottages, a school and nondenominational church, though due to severe flooding, it was relocated south of the railway station some years later.

[5] Redbank's school was originally opened in July 1865 by the Roman Catholic Church on a 2-acre (0.81 ha) land parcel with an initial enrolment of 31 students.

[7] The Redbank - Bundamba Loop Line comprised a series of railway sidings serving coal mines in the area.[8][when?]

[9] During World War II, there was a large military camp and training area at the range with up to 6,000 Australian and American troops.

[citation needed] The current Redbank Plaza Library was opened in 1998 and had a major refurbishment in 2010.

[24][25] There are a number of other parks in the area:[26] Redbank railway station provides access to regular Queensland Rail City network services to Brisbane CBD, Ipswich and Rosewood.