The locality takes its name from a former railway station, which in turn was assigned on 5 August 1915 by the Queensland Railways Department derived from the parish name.[2]
Motley State School opened on 14 August 1922 and closed on 14 July 1936.[4]
Demographics
In the 2016 census, Motley had a population of 9 people.[5]
In the 2021 census, Motley had a population of 10 people.[1]