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Queanbeyan in New South Wales, Australia is a city overshadowed by its proximity to the Australian federal capital city of Canberra. With a population of just over 35,000, it has effectively become a de facto district of the nearby capital city about 10 km over the border in the Australian Capital Territory. The border itself is defined by a railway line. The Queanbeyan River runs through Queanbeyan, near the centre of the city.

The sign on the Kings higway entrance of Queanbeyan claims Queanbeyan is the "Fastest growing city in southern NSW" and gives its population at 33,000 and an elevation of 576 metres.

Suburbs of Queanbeyan include Dodsworth, Karabar, Letchworth, North Terrace and Jerrabomberra.

The town grew from a squattage held by ex-convict inn keeper, Timothy Beard on the banks of the Molonglo River. The original name was Quinbean which means i.

Queanbeyan was officially proclaimed a township in 1838 with a population at that time of about 50. Some of the significant historic buildings still standing date from those early days. Traces of gold were discovered in 1851 and lead and silver mines also flourished briefly. Settlers were harassed by bushrangers, of which John Tennant, Jacky Jacky, Frank Gardiner and Ben Hall were some of the more notorious.

The Commercial Banking company of Sydney limited (CBC now part of the National Australia Bank) opened in Queanbeyan on the 19th of September, 1859. The Bank of New south Wales began service in Queanbeyan in 1878.

i) was Queanbeyan's first newspaper and was founded in 1860 by John Gale.

In 1880 the residence of John James Wright, the first mayor of Queanbeyan, was constructed along the edge of the Queanbeyan River. In 1982 that building became the Queanbeyan Art Centre.

Queanbeyan, an increasinly successful primary producing district, was proclaimed a Municipality in February 1885 incorporating an area of 5,700 acres (23 km²).

The railway reached Queanbeyan in 1887 and it became the junction for the lines going to Canberra and Bombala.

William James Farrer, the wheat experimentalist, established Queanbeyan's reputation as an agricultural district with his famous "Federation" rust-free strain, developed on his property i at Tharwa. Farrer's work was only slowly recognised elsewhere in Australia, but local farmers supported him, particularly as his development of "Blount's Lambrigg" another strain which in 1889 gave hope to farmers after the disastrous season of 1887 when crops had failed after heavy Christmas rains.

At the of its rural prosperity Queanbeyan boasted 16 public houses and six flourmills powered by wind, water, horse and steam.

The Royal Hotel on Monaro street opened in 1926. Canberra was "dry" from 1910 at the time of the territory's foundation until 1928 when Federal Parliament had relocated from Melbourne. In that period many of the capital's residents crossed the border to drink at hotels in Queanbeyan.

By 1972 Queanbeyan had little difficulty in meeting the first basic requirement of city status; the population had risen to more than 15,000 and a future population of at least that number was assured. City status was accordingly granted on 7 July 1972.

In 1975 Queen's Bridge over the Queanbeyan River was opened on the 21st of July.

From 1982 to 1989, the Canberra Raiders rugby league team played their home games in Queanbeyan, at Seiffert Oval.

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