El Arish
QLD 4855 • Queensland
About El Arish
El Arish is a small rural township in the Cassowary Coast region of Far North Queensland, situated 32 kilometres south of Innisfail and approximately 100 kilometres south-east of Cairns. With a population of around 337 residents, the town was established in 1922 as a soldier settlement scheme, named in honour of a Light Horse supply depot in Egypt during World War I. It covers just over 7 square kilometres of low-lying coastal hinterland between the Wet Tropics rainforest and the Coral Sea coast.
El Arish is deeply embedded in the sugarcane and banana farming culture of Far North Queensland, with the Tully Sugar Mill processing cane from the surrounding district. The area is close to the spectacular Mission Beach, only about 25 kilometres away, offering residents easy access to one of Australia's most beautiful beaches and the Great Barrier Reef. The community maintains a strong connection to its Anzac heritage through the Diggers Museum, while El Arish State School serves local families in a lush, tropical setting.
El Arish falls under postcode 4855 and is governed by the Cassowary Coast Council (Local Government Area). For federal elections, residents vote in the electorate of Kennedy, while state elections fall under the Hill electorate.
Location
Ad
Transport & Commute
Bus Services
- Tully/Innisfail regional services — Innisfail / Tully 30–40 min
Commute to Cairns CBD
🛣️ Access via the Bruce Highway (A1) north to Innisfail and then Cairns.
Most trips require a vehicle; some local amenities walkable within town.
Supermarkets Nearby
No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.
Schools
-
28 Chauvel Street
Crime Statistics LGA-wide
These are the latest rates for the Cassowary Coast Local Government Area, which contains El Arish. Rates are per 100,000 residents for calendar year 2025; trends compare 2 and 10 year periods.