The suburb was named after a native from the Loyalty Islands (near modern-day New Caledonia) who was transported in the late nineteenth century to Queensland.

[5][4] Prior to European occupation beginning in the early 19th century the area covered by the suburb was inhabited by Aboriginal people.

The Coorparoo sub-group of the wider Jagera group occupied land south of the Brisbane River clustered around Oxley, Norman and Bulimba creeks.

[7] The Coorparoo group had cultural links to other neighbouring communities including territorially-neutral pathways, river crossings and ceremonies.

According to Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines (2003) the modern name is derived from the aboriginal "Yekkabin" which referred to aquatic plants (probably Telmatoblechnum indicum) with edible roots which grew in the creek.

The edible roots were common in the diet of Aboriginals of the Moreton Bay area; a sharp stick was used to dig out the stem, which was then dried, roasted, and pounded with a stone.

An early land-owner (and later Mayor of Brisbane and member of parliament), Thomas Stephens, established a woolscour and later a fellmongery in the northern part of the suburb near Essie Avenue.

In October 1914 "Cracknell Hill Estate", made up of 115 allotments of 16 perches, was advertised for sale by Isles Love & Co., Auctioneers.

[9][10][11] The map advertising the sale states that the estate was a five minute walk from the proposed new tram terminus at Chardon's Hotel.

[14] In August 1924 Marcus F. Lyons & Winning advertised 312 allotments for private sale in the "Cracknel Road Estate", being subdivisions 1 to 313 of resubdivision 1 and 2 of portion 113, Parish of Yeerongpilly.

During the Second World War, Tarragindi was the site of a field hospital administered first by the American Army (for soldiers treated for shell shock) and later by the British and Australian forces.

Its sports houses, named after Australian native animals, are Platypus (yellow), Emu (blue), Kangaroo (red), and Koala (green).