Prior to European settlement, the Morningside area was home to the original owners of the land, in particular the Tugulawa tribe. Morningside was so named because the rising sun shines on the surrounding hills, thus indicating the suburb is on the morning side of the city.
Morningside State School was opened on 16 August 1926 anticipating an enrolment of about 290. Staff were overwhelmed by the end of the first day of schooling when 382 pupils had been enrolled, rising to 420 by the end of the month. The high enrolment validated the decision to open another school so close to other schools already established in the area. From its humble beginnings of one weatherboard building, Morningside State School now boasts eleven buildings, a swimming pool dug by parents in the 1950s, tennis courts and oval.
Morningside has evolved from a small farm community into a vibrant and diverse suburb, home to families, small businesses, and sports and recreation grounds, all built on a tradition of pioneering spirit and toil. Morningside State School is an integral part of the community network and spirit that makes Morningside so special.