El Arish, Qld

This Far North Queensland town celebrates the diggers who established it.

Story John Dunn  Photo Cassowary Coast Tourism

There was much excitement in the timber courthouse in Innisfail, Far North Queensland, on a steamy August morning in 1920. Government officials put well over 100 names in a straw hat for a much sought-after land ballot in an area known as the Maria Creek Soldier Settlement, soon to be renamed El Arish.

Ex-soldiers from World War I flocked from all over the state, and beyond, for the draw that would provide potential sugar cane farmers with blocks of land and a loan of £625 to start a fresh life in return for their overseas service in the Middle East between 1914 and 1918. This was part of the nationwide Soldier Settlers Scheme that enabled 23,000 participants to occupy 90,000sq km of land to help re-integrate them into civilian life, provide a livelihood and promote rural development.

Current caretaker of the town’s museum, Marie Carman says her grandfather Willie Hugh Williams was there, and his name was called. “For them this was a new beginning,” Marie says. “It was a much deserved chance to make up for all those years they spent fighting overseas for their homeland.”

However, winning the ballot was the easy part. “The hard slog was to come,” Marie says. “This part of Queensland was difficult jungle country, very wet and hot, and malaria was a serious problem.”