The Genealogical Society of Queensland was formed in May 1978 as a State body based on a model for such societies used by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The society consisted of a main body governed by a State Council and a series of local chapters. In May 1979, a small group of people broke away from the Genealogical Society of QLD and formed the Queensland Family History Society. GSQ then consisted of a main headquarters and library, managed by a Management Committee, but the chapters remained. By 1981, the chapters had become branches. The Society became an incorporated association in 1986 and had its first constitution approved in 1987.
At one time, GSQ had up to 22 branches or local social groups, many in the south-east Queensland area, but some as far north as Townsville and west to Roma. However, with Queensland being such a decentralised state, it made sense for many of these branches to form societies of their own.
GSQ began without a home. The library was kept in the librarian's home and taken to meetings. The Society moved around to a spread of locations mainly in the inner southern suburbs of Brisbane, before moving in April 1981 to 329 Logan Road, Stones Corner.
In 1988, the Society moved to the old Woolloongabba Post Office, a heritage listed building, on the corner of Stanley and Hubert Street, where it remained for over 12 years. However, lack of space in 2001 resulted in another move, two doors up in Hubert Street, where space was not a problem.
However, with a massive rent increase due in 2006, GSQ moved in January of that year to Fisher Street, East Brisbane. With the continuing problems at Fisher Street, of inundation of water, parking problems in the Gabba Parking Area and noise from the dance studio upstairs, the Management Committee took the decision not to take up the five-year option on our lease. New premises, 25 Stackpole Street on the corner of Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Road, Wishart were found, and the Society moved in early November 2015. The new premises are in a standalone building with 17 onsite car parking spaces.