The area was originally incorporated as part of the Caboolture Divisional Board on 11 November 1879 under the "Divisional Boards Act 1879". On 5 July 1890, Maroochy split away and was proclaimed as a Maroochy Division in its own right, with an area of and headquarters at Nambour. It did not initially contain Buderim or Kenilworth. The first elections were held on 13 September for three councillors, each of whom represented one subdivision. By 1895, council chambers had been erected firstly on Blackall Terrace and then at Station Square adjacent to the Nambour railway station, where they were to continue meeting until 1978.