It was created in March 2008 out of 15 autonomous Island Councils during a period of statewide local government reform.

The local government jurisdiction was created on 15 March 2008 from 15 previous entities—the Island Councils of Badu (Mulgrave Is.

In 1984, the Community Services (Torres Strait) Act was enacted by the Queensland Government, allowing community councils to be created to own and administer former reserves or missions under a Deed of Grant in Trust (DOGIT).

The White Paper expressed concerns about workload and capacity to meet community needs, deficiencies in corporate governance and accountability and other challenges and issues.

[6] Because of the unique structure of the DOGIT areas, where a community owned the land and the council represented the community owners, concerns were raised by the councils about ownership potentially transferring to the new entities and diluting their title over it.

Following the elections, the Department of Local Government provided $675,000 to the Regional Council to assist with expenses relating to the post-amalgamation transfer process.

[8] In the 2016 census, the Torres Strait Island Region had a population of 4,514 people,[9] including the following sub-populations:[citation needed] In the 2021 census, the Torres Strait Island Region had a population of 4,124 people.

[16] On the 30 August 2002, Erub (Darnley Island) became the second Indignenous Knowledge Centre (IKC) to open in the Torres Strait.

The IKC was established in a partnership between the Erub Island Council and State Library of Queensland.