The town is named after the city of Arish in Egypt where the Australian Light Horse saw action in December 1916 and which was later developed as a major base area with an allied hospital.

The town was founded in 1921 as a soldier settlement area.
Many of the streets were named after high-ranking officers, including:
Chauvel Street after General Harry Chauvel
Glasgow Street after Major General Thomas William Glasgow
Monash Street after General John Monash
Royston Street after Brigadier General John Royston
Ryrie Street after Major General Granville Ryrie
And some were named after general veterans such as:
Francis Martin Street after Francis Paxton Martin who set up some soldier settlements in El Arish in the 1920s.

The El Arish War Memorial is located on the south-west corner of Monash and Ryrie Streets (17.806332°S 146.004821°E).

The Maria Creek State School opened on 13 May 1922; it was renamed El Arish State School in 1925.

El Arish Post Office opened by 1926 (a receiving office had been open from 1921).

El Arish Tavern was established in 1927.

The area was later settled by Italian Australians who worked in the sugar cane fields.

At the 2006 census El Arish had a population of 232.

The town was hit by Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi in February 2011.

In the 2011 census El Arish had a population of 442 people.
The town is named after the city of Arish in Egypt where the Australian Light Horse saw action in December 1916 and which was later developed as a major base area with an allied hospital.
The town was founded in 1921 as a soldier settlement area. Many of the streets were named after high-ranking officers, including:
Chauvel Street after General Harry Chauvel
Glasgow Street after Major General Thomas William Glasgow
Monash Street after General John Monash
Royston Street after Brigadier General John Royston
Ryrie Street after Major General Granville Ryrie
And some were named after general veterans such as:
Francis Martin Street after Francis Paxton Martin who set up some soldier settlements in El Arish in the 1920s.
The El Arish War Memorial is located on the south-west corner of Monash and Ryrie Streets (17.806332°S 146.004821°E).
The Maria Creek State School opened on 13 May 1922; it was renamed El Arish State School in 1925.
El Arish Post Office opened by 1926 (a receiving office had been open from 1921).
El Arish Tavern was established in 1927.
The area was later settled by Italian Australians who worked in the sugar cane fields.
At the 2006 census El Arish had a population of 232.
The town was hit by Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi in February 2011.
In the 2011 census El Arish had a population of 442 people.
El Arish, Queensland