The land use is predominantly grazing on native vegetation, but there is also some crop growing and an area of rural residential housing in the north-east of the locality.[8]
In August 1913, local residents desired to establish a school.[9] In March 1915, the Queensland Government reserved 5 acres (2.0 ha) of land for a school.[10] In November 1915, tenders were called to erect a school building.[11] Ellesmere State School opened in May 1916.[12] In April 1922, the school was burned down and forced to close as the government would not agree to the temporary use of a farmer's barn as a school room; there were 46 children enrolled at this time.[13] In December 1922, the government allocated £613 to build a new school building.[14] It reopened on 16 July 1923. In 1961, it closed permanently.[15][16] It was at 938 Kumbia Road (north-east corner of Ellesmere Road, 26°44′25″S151°43′18″E / 26.74038°S 151.72160°E / -26.74038; 151.72160 (Ellesmere State School (former))).[17][18][19] As at November 2020, the school building was still extant on the site.[20]
In September 1922, 1 acre (0.40 ha) of land was reserved for a School of Arts.[21]
Demographics
In the 2016 census, Ellesmere had a population of 343 people.[22]
In the 2021 census, Ellesmere had a population of 334 people.[1]
Education
There are no schools in Ellesmere. The nearest government primary school is Kumbia State School in Kumbia to the north-east. The nearest government secondary schools are Kingaroy State High School in Kingaroy to the north and Nanango State High School in Nanango to the north-east.[23]
^"COUNTRY TELEGRAMS". The Brisbane Courier. No. 17, 344. Queensland, Australia. 15 August 1913. p. 8. Archived from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^"RESERVES". Queensland Times. Vol. LVI, no. 9182. Queensland, Australia. 6 March 1915. p. 4 (Daily). Archived from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^"EDUCATION MATTERS". Daily Standard. No. 1027. Queensland, Australia. 20 April 1916. p. 2 (SECOND EDITION). Archived from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^"NEW STATE SCHOOL". The Telegraph. No. 15, 610. Queensland, Australia. 8 December 1922. p. 4. Archived from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^"MARITIME FLEETS". The Brisbane Courier. No. 20, 161. Queensland, Australia. 2 September 1922. p. 4. Retrieved 7 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.