Sunnybank High school opened in 1963, the year before a huge expansion of secondary schooling in Queensland when Year 8 was moved into high school and the external Junior Public Examination was phased out.

The school grew rapidly in size, reaching a peak over 1700 in 1984. Since that year, four state high schools have been established in the original feeder area but population and transport developments have kept pace with the provision of educational alternatives and Sunnybank High's student numbers again reached over 1300 in 2001.

A strong academic base in its subject offerings and teaching methods has continued to attract students from a wide area. However, the school's history features a sequence of enticing developments that have ensured the popularity of Sunnybank for those valuing its many kinds of excellence.

Annual musical productions alternating full length musicals and variety concerts
Art exhibitions both at school and in other venues:

• 1980s the development of a Peace Garden
  
• 1990 the establishment of an Intensive Language Unit involving students from fifty different language backgrounds
  
• 1991 the founding of an Athletics School of Excellence
  Through the 1990s the highest retention rate in Languages Other than English in S.E.
  Queensland's State secondary schools
  
• 2001 the beginnings of a school of excellence in Rugby League
  1990s strong involvement in Vocational Education and Training across the curriculum.
  
• 2002 Secondary School Renewal including new Science facilities and Administration building.
  
• 2003 Curriculum renewal in the Middle School