The origin of the name Nobby is unknown. When the Western railway line from Toowoomba to Warwick was being constructed, a worker's camp known as McDonald's Camp was established in the area in 1868 and this gave its name to the general area. However, the railway siding created was known as Nobby's Siding and the area become known as Nobby. However, the township that was surveyed alongside the railway in 1891 was named Davenport after George Davenport, a former local Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Drayton and Toowoomba whose pastoral run was at nearby Headington Hill. However, the Railway Department refused to rename the railway station, which created confusion having the railway station and the town with different names, leading to many people continuing to refer to the town as Nobby. Eventually the town's name was official changed back to Nobby in 1931. On 24 September 1889 Arthur Martin & Co auctioned 258 town allotments under the name Davenport Township. These blocks were located on south west side of Nobby railway station. Nobby's Siding Post Office opened by March 1894, was renamed Nobby's by 1902 and Nobby by 1908. Nobby State School opened on 15 November 1897. A School of Arts was opened in Nobby in 1909. The hall, along with an adjacent bank building, was completely destroyed by fire in July 1928 and was rebuilt in 1929. The Nobby branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association was established in April 1925; its first president was Sister Elizabeth Kenny. St Paul's Church of England in Back Plains was dedicated on 12 February 1892 by Archbishop of BrisbaneWilliam Webber. The last service was conducted on 8 August 1943. In 1953 the church building was relocated to Nobby where it was re-established as St Paul's Church of England. The last service at Nobby was conducted circa 11 May 1975. In 1979 the church building was relocated to 12 Jubb Street, Allora to become the Scots Presbyterian Church for those Presbyterians in the district who did not wish to become part of the Uniting Church of Australia. The church in Allora was dedicated on 26 July 1980 by Presbyterian Moderator Rt Rev F. White. At the 2006 census, Nobby had a population of 391. At the 2011 census, Nobby had a population of 484 people.
Attractions
Rudd's Pub was originally built in 1893 across the road from the Nobby railway station as the Davenport Hotel; the architects were James Marks and Son. Based on local folklore that author Steele Rudd wrote some of his works in the pub, it was renamed Rudd's Pub in the 1980s. Sister Kenny House is a memorial to Sister Elizabeth Kenny who pioneered physiotherapy as a treatment for polio. This small museum holds artefacts relating to her life and therapies.
