El Arish, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids El ArishQueensland |
|||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
El Arish Tavern, 2016
|
|||||||||||||||
 El Arish
Location in Queensland
|
|||||||||||||||
| Population | 337 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 47.5/km2 (123/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Established | 1921 | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4855 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 20 m (66 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 7.1 km2 (2.7 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | |||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Cassowary Coast Region | ||||||||||||||
| County | County of Nares | ||||||||||||||
| Parish | Parish of Hull | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Hill | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Kennedy | ||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||
El Arish is a small town in the countryside of Queensland, Australia. It's part of the Cassowary Coast Region. In 2021, about 337 people lived here.
Contents
Exploring El Arish's Location
El Arish is located in a rural area of Queensland. The main highway, called the Bruce Highway, runs just east of the town. This highway helps people travel north and south through the region.
Railways and History
A railway line, the North Coast railway line, also passes by El Arish. The town has its own railway station, but it's not used for trains anymore. Instead, the old station building has been turned into a museum! There was once another station nearby called Quatia, which gave its name to a local area.
The Story of El Arish
El Arish was founded in 1921. It was set up as a special place for soldiers who had fought in World War I to settle down. This is why it's called a "soldier settlement."
How El Arish Got Its Name
The town was named after a city in Egypt called Arish. Australian soldiers, known as the Australian Light Horse, fought bravely there in 1916. The name Quatia also comes from a place in Egypt where Australian soldiers fought in World War I.
Streets Named After Heroes
Many streets in El Arish are named after important military leaders from World War I. This was a way to honor them. Some of these streets include:
- Chauvel Street, named after General Harry Chauvel
- Glasgow Street, named after Major General Thomas William Glasgow
- Monash Street, named after General John Monash
- Royston Street, named after Brigadier General John Royston
- Ryrie Street, named after Major General Granville Ryrie
Other streets honor veterans, like Francis Martin Street. Francis Paxton Martin helped set up some of these soldier settlements in the 1920s.
Remembering the Past
The El Arish War Memorial is a special place to remember those who served. It was officially opened in September 1947.
Important Buildings and Events
The Maria Creek State School first opened in 1922 and was renamed El Arish State School in 1925. The El Arish Post Office started operating around 1926. The El Arish Tavern, a local pub, was established in 1927. The RSL Memorial Hall, a community building, opened in October 1930. Local people built it using timber donated from a sawmill.
Later, many Italian Australian families moved to the area. They worked hard in the sugar cane fields, which became a big part of the local economy. In February 2011, a very strong storm called Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi hit the town.
What El Arish is Known For
El Arish has several places that are important to its history and community. These are called "heritage-listed" places.
Heritage-Listed Places
- The former El Arish railway station: This old station is now the El Arish History Station. It's a small museum that shows what life was like for the soldier settlers and shares local history. You can even visit for a social morning tea on Fridays!
- The El Arish Tavern: This historic pub has been a part of the town since 1927.
- The El Arish RSL Memorial Hall: This hall has been looked after by local volunteers since 1930.
El Arish's Economy
Today, the main industries in El Arish are growing sugar cane and bananas. These farms provide many jobs for the people living in the area.
Education in El Arish
El Arish State School is a primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. It's located on Chauvel Street. In 2018, about 37 students attended the school. For high school, students usually travel to Tully to attend Tully State High School.
Community Facilities
El Arish has important services for its residents:
- El Arish Police Station: This is where the local police are located.
- El Arish Fire Station: A new fire station was built here in 2020.
- El Arish Post Office: This is where you can send mail and access postal services.
Local Amenities
The town also has places for recreation and community gatherings.
- El Arish Country Golf Club: If you like golf, there's a 9-hole golf course here.
- Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church: This church is located on Glasgow Street.
- El Arish RSL Memorial Hall: This large hall can hold many people and is used for community events. It has a dance floor, a stage, and a kitchen.
Things to See and Do
The former El Arish railway station building is now the El Arish Diggers Museum. It's a great place to learn about the town's history and the brave soldiers who settled here. The building was even moved to face Chauvel Street!
