 Prior to European settlement, the area around Laidley was home to the Kitabul Aboriginal people.The district was originally part of the Tarampa Divisional Board, which was created on 15 January 1880 under the "Divisional Boards Act 1879".On 25 April 1888, the Laidley district broke away and separately incorporated as the Laidley Division, and on 25 January 1890, the Forest Hill area moved from Tarampa to Laidley.