Prenzlau is a rural locality north of the Warrego Highway, between Minden and Tarampa, 25 km east of Gatton. In the 1860s and 1870s the area was settled by German families, some or all of whom most probably came from Prenzlau, a town 100 km north of Berlin.
There were villages at Minden and Tarampa, and it was not until 1894 that a post office and a government school were opened at Prenzlau. The post office directory, 1911, recorded 27 farmers at Prenzlau, most with German surnames. A sawmill was also recorded (1921).
During the period before and after World War II the census population nearly halved as small farm holdings were consolidated. By the close of the century the small holdings returned or were subdivided still further, as Prenzlau was within 30 km commuting distance of Ipswich.
Prenzlau's census populations have been:
| Census Date | Population |
|---|---|
| 1911 | 55 |
| 1933 | 165 |
| 1961 | 87 |
| 2006 | 1120 |
| 2011 | 325 |
