Ellis Beach is a coastal

locality Locality may refer to: * Locality (association), an association of community regeneration organizations in England * Locality (linguistics) * Locality (settlement) * Suburbs and localities (Australia), in which a locality is a geographic subdivi ...

in the

Cairns Region The Cairns Region is a local government area in Far North Queensland, Queensland, Australia, centred on the regional city of Cairns. It was established in 2008 by the amalgamation of the City of Cairns and the Shires of Douglas and Mulgrave ...

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

, Australia. In the , Ellis Beach had a population of 24 people.

Geography

The five-kilometre strip of Ellis Beach is located aside the

Coral Sea The Coral Sea () is a marginal sea of the South Pacific off the northeast coast of Australia, and classified as an interim Australian bioregion. The Coral Sea extends down the Australian northeast coast. Most of it is protected by the Fren ...

north of Cairns on the

Captain Cook Highway The Captain Cook Highway is a short, regional highway in Queensland which originates in Cairns and terminates in Mossman, where it joins Mossman-Daintree Road, continuing to Daintree. The Captain Cook Highway is used to connect the CBD of C ...

between Cairns and

Port Douglas Port Douglas is a coastal town and locality in the Shire of Douglas, Queensland, Australia, approximately 60 km north of Cairns. In the , Port Douglas had a population of 3,504 people. The town's population can often double, however, with th ...

, within the

local government area. The Ellis Beach locality also contains the nearby off-shore Double Island, also known by its native Aboriginal name Wangal Djungay.

History

Ellis Beach is situated in the Djabugay (Tjapukai) traditional Aboriginal country. The Cairns Historical Society's records show that it was named after Dick Ellis, who at the time resided at this beach. He was a shot firer for the Queensland Department of Main Roads – presumably at the time the Cook Highway was constructed in the early 1930s. He lost a hand and the

Queensland Government The Queensland Government is the democratic administrative authority of the Australian state of Queensland. The Government of Queensland, a parliamentary constitutional monarchy was formed in 1859 as prescribed in its Constitution, as amended f ...

constructed a house for him at the beach now known as Ellis Beach on the spot where the café now stands. This was about 1940 and Dick Ellis died in 1960. Before World War II the area was unnamed (in English) and had no houses. It was only during the war years that it became known as Ellis Beach and this fits with all other records. There are a number of mango trees at Ellis Beach, which it is believed were tended by Mr Ellis. After the construction of the Cook Highway through the area the authorities decided to plant many varieties of trees along each side of the roadway. This was done where the terrain permitted. Mangoes were particularly suitable for this purpose and many of the original trees survive along with other flowering trees. Those along the stretch of road at Ellis Beach would no doubt owe their existence to Dick Ellis. In other areas drought and fire have taken their toll but some still exist. At the 2006 census, Ellis Beach had a population of 30.

Amenities

Ellis Beach is also home to the Ellis Beach Surf Lifesaving Club which regularly hosts competitions and events. From November to May, a stinger net patrolled by the club helps protect swimmers from marine "stingers" (jellyfish species of Chironex and Irukandji) which inhabit the waters during those months. Ellis Beach features pumice stones along its beautiful shores. There is a camping ground and a bar and grill restaurant.

In popular culture

Ellis Beach was featured in the fourth season of ''The Amazing Race''.

Gallery

File:Ellisbeach beach.jpg, Ellis Beach – view north File:JellyfishNetAustralia.JPG, Jellyfish enclosure at Ellis Beach File:Ellis Beach Bar & Grill, 2018 02.jpg, Ellis Beach Bar & Grill, 2018

References

External links

{{Cairns Region Populated places in Far North Queensland Beaches of Queensland Suburbs of Cairns Localities in Queensland