The local economy has traditionally relied on coal-mining as it plays a significant role in the local economy, with eleven coal mines located in the Nebo district.
History
is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken by the Baradha people. The Baradha language region includes the locality of Lotus Creek and extends along the inland ranges towards Nebo and extends along the Connors River catchment. Biri is a language of Central and North Queensland. Biri refers to a language chain extending from Central Queensland towards Townsville and is often used as a universal name for other languages and/or dialects across the region. The language area includes the towns of Bowen, Ayr, Collinsville and Nebo. The district was named by explorer William Landsborough, after the Babylonian god Nabu. Although the name Nebo was widely used for the town, the official name was Fort Cooper until it was eventually changed to Nebo in 1923. Fort Cooper was utilised as a Native Police barracks from 1862 until 1878 from which many punitive expeditions were conducted. Officers such as Robert Arthur Johnstone were deployed to this post and their efficiency in forcing local Aboriginals into submission were appreciated by the local residents and squatters. Pastoralists settled in the Nebo region as early as the 1860s. The Nebo Post Office opened on 1 January 1864. The Nebo Police Station opened in February 1867. In December 1886 new police quarters were built. The Nebo Court of Petty Sessions opened on 29 January 1866. The Nebo Small Debts Court opened on 31 December 1867. Following the Magistrates Courts Act 1921, the Small Debts Court became the Nebo Magistrates Court on 3 April 1922. On 31 December 1964, the Court of Petty Sessions was absorbed into the Magistrates Court. The Magistrates Court closed on 20 December 1990. Nebo Provisional School opened on 29 June 1874. It became Nebo State School in 1909. The Nebo Library facility opened in 1969. Nebo was the administrative centre for the Shire of Nebo until 2008 when the Shire was amalgamated with the Shire of Belyando and the Shire of Broadsound to form the Isaac Region. The Isaac Region is administered from Moranbah, but has council offices in Nebo. At the 2006 census, Nebo had a population of 850. In the 2011 census, Nebo had a population of 840 people.
Nebo State School is a government co-educational primary school at 34 Oxford Street, Nebo. In 2014, the school had an enrolment of 63 children with 4 teachers.
