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. 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. In 1951, a further of land was acquired to expand the school site. The
Redbank - Bundamba Loop Line comprised a series of railway sidings serving coal mines in the area. Redbank Rifle Range operated from 1912 to 1980 south of the Redbank railway station. It was the home of a number rifle clubs over the years including Ipswich Railway Rifle Club, Ipswich City Rifle Club, Ipswich and District Rifle Club, which were involved in competitive
target shooting. The firing mound was about from the railway station with the targets away (approx ). 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. The development of the Ipswich Motorway reduced the length of the rifle range which led to the relocation of the Ipswich and District Rifle Club to
South Ripley in 1972. The
Redbank Railway Workshops has been operating in the suburb since 1958. The current Redbank Plaza Library was opened in 1998 and had a major refurbishment in 2010. == Demographics ==