Its main tribal groups are the Wakka Wakka people (who originally lived in the area between Dalby and Maidenwell) and the Culidy people (who originally lived in the area between Roma and Quilpie).

However, representatives of many other tribal groups from western Queensland, the Cape and Burdekin areas form part of the population too. Cherbourg is located close to Murgon but is an independent local government authority, separate from Murgon Shire.

 

The Council is part of the South Burnett Local Government Association and its goal is to make Cherbourg the first completely self-sufficient aboriginal community in Australia.

In recent years the Community Council has run a vigorous "work for the dole" program which has resulted in many improvements to the township area and today Cherbourg has its own convenience store, hospital, TAFE campus, motel, community radio station, aged care hostel and arts and crafts centre.

Cherbourg always welcomes visitors and two community ventures particularly worth seeing are the Cherbourg Emu Farm (the first commercial emu farm in Queensland, which provides breeding stock for other growers, emu meat for the restaurant trade, emu leather for export and emu eggs for local egg-carvers) and the Cherbourg Tourist Centre - built on a hill overlooking Lake Barambah - which sells a wide range of Aboriginal souvenirs, fine art and craftworks.

The Centre also has very pretty landscaped gardens with picnic and bbq facilities, along with wonderful views over the Lake.

 

In 1906 the first 300 occupants - drawn from 13 different tribal groups - were forcibly moved there by the Protector of Aborigines under the policies of the times. Others followed in succeeding years.

The aboriginal settlers were required to clear the area by hand and the early conditions were so harsh that most continued traditional hunting and fishing methods to eat, and lived in bush humpies to shelter from the elements. In the 1960s a slightly more enlightened Government policy provided rations for the inhabitants and began to construct proper accommodation in Cherbourg township. Residents were paid wages for their work soon afterwards.

Cherbourg became independent in 1986 when the Queensland State Government issued the community with a Deed of Grant in Trust. The size of the settlement has steadily increased with the passage of time and ventures in agriculture, beef cattle, dairying and joinery are becoming increasingly successful. The community is celebrating its Centenary in 2004.