Oakey is a rural town and
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 subdivis ...
in the
Toowoomba Region
The Toowoomba Region is a local government area located in the Darling Downs part of Queensland, Australia. Established in 2008, it was preceded by several previous local government areas with histories extending back to the early 1900s and bey ...
,
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
, establishe ...
, Australia.
The
Museum of Army Aviation is located at Oakey Airport.
Geography
![Oakey Creek at Oakey](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/Oakey_Creek_at_Oakey.jpg)
The town is situated on the eastern side of the Darling Downs and the
Toowoomba Region
The Toowoomba Region is a local government area located in the Darling Downs part of Queensland, Australia. Established in 2008, it was preceded by several previous local government areas with histories extending back to the early 1900s and bey ...
local government area. Oakey Creek, a tributary of the
Condamine River
The Condamine River, part of the Balonne River, Balonne catchment that is part of the Murray-Darling Basin, drains the northern portion of the Darling Downs, an area of sub-coastal southern Queensland, Australia. The river is approximately 500 k ...
, passes through the town.
Oakey is one of the towns contained in the Queensland State
Electoral district of Condamine
Condamine is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Queensland.
Condamine takes in areas to the north-west, west and south of Toowoomba. It includes a number of small towns, such as Oakey, Pittsworth, Ca ...
and at the federal level it lies within the
Division of Groom
The Division of Groom is an Australian Electoral Division in Queensland.
Groom is an agricultural electorate located on the Darling Downs in southern Queensland. It includes the regional city of Toowoomba and rural communities to the west an ...
.
The town is surrounded by farms.
The town is bypassed by the
Warrego Highway
The Warrego Highway is located in southern Queensland, Australia. It connects coastal centres to the south western areas of the state, and is approximately 715 km in length. It takes its name from the Warrego River, which is the endpoint ...
(National A2), and is also on the main rail link connecting Brisbane and Toowoomba with south-western Queensland.
The
Western railway line passes through the locality which is served by two railway stations:
*
Boolee railway station, on a spur line west of the town ()
*
Oakey railway station, serving the town ()
Oakey Airport is an airport ().
It is located on the site of the World War 2 airbase. The
Oakey Army Aviation Centre
Oakey Army Aviation Centre is situated approximately from the town centre of Oakey in Queensland, Australia. It provides a training establishment for Australian Army Aviation, and also hosts the Republic of Singapore Air Force's "Cougar" 126 ...
is the major user of the airport.
History
![StateLibQld 1 290087 Queensland National Bank in Oakey, 1916](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/StateLibQld_1_290087_Queensland_National_Bank_in_Oakey%2C_1916.jpg)
Oakey and the creek around which the town is located, were named for the river oaks that dominate the banks of the creek.
The area was first settled in the early 1840s when pastoralists moved into the area and found the land to be suitable for grazing.
In 1859, the
Jondaryan Woolshed was built to the west of the town to service the rapidly growing wool industry.
The first shearing took place in 1861. The
Jondaryan pastoral station dominated the area, encompassing over . The Woolshed was responsible for over 200,000 head of sheep and could cater for in excess of 50 shearers working simultaneously. Following
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, the homestead landholding was reduced and separated to allow for soldier re-settlement programs.
The building of the
Western railway line through the area in 1867 prompted the growth of a township to service the pastoral community. Growth of the town was slow, however featured some enterprising ventures, including a short-lived meatworks near the town, which planned to tin and export kangaroo and wallaby under the marketing name 'Australian Game'. The enterprise was unsuccessful and closed down in 1876.
The town was surveyed in 1868, with the first sale being 28 June 1870. Originally named Oaky, the spelling of Oakey was officially adopted in August 1940.
Oakey Creek Post Office opened on 1 June 1869. It was renamed Oakey by 1878.
Oakey Creek Vested School opened on 10 August 1874,
with a number of celebrations:
"A grand picnic and ball was held here on the 3rd instant in honor of the opening of the above school. The school-house is a neat weatherboard building, shingled, and with a verandah on each side, and capable of accommodating between sixty and seventy children, and will amply supply the requirements of tbe district for years to come. The teacher's residence is a smart little four roomed cottage, but I should think rather small. The appointment of Mr. Tait as teacher is sure to give satisfaction."
The school was later renamed Oakey Creek State School. In 1905, it was renamed Oakey State School.
Scots Presbyterian Church opened in 1906. A new church was built in 1957.
St Monica's Catholic Church was opened on Sunday 14 February 1909 by Reverend D. Fouhy. The land was and the church was a Gothic structure, with walls, capable of seating 200 people. Messrs Marks and Lane were the architects and Mr Andrews was the contractor. The church was enlarged in 1919 to accommodate a school. A new brick church was built in 1957.
The
Cooyar railway line serviced the areas to the north of Oakey between 1913 and 1968. Between 1914 and 1984 the area to the southwest was serviced by the
Cecil Plains railway line.
St Monica's Catholic School was officially opened on Sunday 26 October 1919 by
Archbishop James Duhig
Sir James Duhig KCMG (2 September 187110 April 1965) was an Irish-born Australian Roman Catholic religious leader. He was the Archbishop of Brisbane for 48 years from 1917 until his death in 1965. At the time of his death he was the longest-s ...
. The church building had been enlarged to accommodate both the church and the school.
The Oakey War Memorial in Campbell Street was unveiled on 28 August 1922 by the
Governor of Queensland
The governor of Queensland is the representative in the state of Queensland of the monarch of Australia. In an analogous way to the governor-general of Australia at the national level, the governor performs constitutional and ceremonial func ...
, Sir
Matthew Nathan
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Matthew Nathan (3 January 1862 – 18 April 1939) was a British soldier and colonial administrator, who variously served as the Governor of Sierra Leone, Gold Coast (British colony), Gold Coast, Hong Kong, Natal and Quee ...
. It was made "of Rockhampton marble on a pedestal of sandstone, with a polished granite centre piece, on which are inscribed in gold letters the names of no fewer than 332 soldiers of the Oakey district who took part in the Great War."
The
Country Women's Association
The Country Women's Association (CWA) is the largest regional and rural advocacy group in Australia. It comprises seven independent State and Territory Associations, who are passionate advocates for country women and their families, working ...
opened a branch in Oakey in 1924, which was noted to be 'thriving' in 1925,
and celebrated 90 years of activity in 2014.
The racehorse
Bernborough
Bernborough (1939–1960) was an outstanding Australian-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who competed from 1941 to 1946. He carried heavy weights in 15 consecutive wins that included the Doomben 10,000 while carrying 10 stone 5 pounds.
Bernborough w ...
was foaled at Rosalie Plains in 1939.
He became well-known on the tracks around Toowoomba. Eventually the horse was sold to a businessman in Sydney and raced in three states, winning 15 consecutive races between 22 December 1945 and 19 October 1946.
During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
, the requirement for aircraft maintenance and construction exceeded the capabilities of Brisbane-based facilities. To expand the capability, a site at Oakey was purchased to facilitate the raising of Number 6 Aircraft Depot (6AD). An airbase was sited approximately north of the town, and runways were built. With a full complement of RAAF personnel, the base housed almost 2,000 troops. The Depot serviced, assembled and conducted test flights of
Bristol Beaufort
The Bristol Beaufort (manufacturer designation Type 152) is a British twin-engined torpedo bomber designed by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, and developed from experience gained designing and building the earlier Blenheim light bomber. At le ...
,
P-51 Mustang, Norsemen,
CAC Wirraway
The CAC Wirraway (an Aboriginal word meaning "challenge") was a training and general purpose military aircraft manufactured in Australia by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) between 1939 and 1946. It was an Australian development of ...
and
Supermarine Spitfire aircraft. This airfield became an Army Aviation Training Centre in the 1970s, now Swartz Barracks, a major helicopter pilot and maintenance training facility for the Defence forces.
After the war, the Oakey airport was serviced by
Macair Airlines commercial air services originating in
Brisbane
Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Queensland, and the third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of approximately 2.6 million. Brisbane lies at the centre of the South ...
, however the failure of Macair saw services commenced by
Skytrans Airlines being routed via Toowoomba. The establishment of the
Wellcamp Airport south of the town, servicing Toowoomba, saw Skytrans being replaced by Qantaslink and REX airlines, and the reduction of airspace for the Army Aviation Centre.
The Oakey Veterinary Hospital was established in 1952.
Oakey State High School opened on 28 January 1964.
Since 1916, there was community interest in the establishment of a high school in Oakey, with the disadvantage of "scholars having to reside in Dalby, Warwick, or Toowoomba, after passing the examination" acting as a deterrent to many parents from pursuing higher education for their children. In response to a skills shortage in transport and logistics Oakey State High developed an innovative program called "Transport and Logistics Employees for our Community". In 2007, the successful partnership between school, training organisations and industry was recognised as the winner of the Showcase Award for Excellence in Community or Industry Partnerships by the
Department of Education, Training and Employment.
In 1975, Jondaryan Woolshed Historical Museum and Park was established to present the history of Jondaryan Station and its role in the development of pastoralism on the Darling Downs. The woolshed has been in continuous operation since it was built.
Oakey State School celebrated its centenary in 1974.
The Oakey Library opened in 1975 and underwent a major refurbishment in 2014.
On Sunday 31 May 1987, the Oakey Uniting Church was officially opened and dedicated by Reverend Barry Dangerfield, the Queensland Moderator of the
Uniting Church in Australia
The Uniting Church in Australia (UCA) was founded on 22 June 1977, when most congregations of the Methodist Church of Australasia, about two-thirds of the Presbyterian Church of Australia and almost all the churches of the Congregational Uni ...
.
The hall beside the church was formerly the
Maclagan Union Church.
The
Oakey Power Station
The Oakey Power Station is a 282 MW power station located at Oakey on the Darling Downs in southern Queensland, adjacent to the Roma to Brisbane Pipeline. The station is an open-cycle, dual liquid/gas-fired power station that typically ope ...
is a 332 MW dual liquid/gas-fired plant and was commissioned in December 1999.
The main town centre was redeveloped during 2005 by the council and now includes new shops, landscaping and tree plantings.
![StateLibQld 2 296107 Methodist Church, Oakey, ca 1912](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/StateLibQld_2_296107_Methodist_Church%2C_Oakey%2C_ca_1912.jpg)
In January 2011 the Oakey Creek flooded, impacting 120 homes and businesses. In 2014 a Flood Early Warning System was installed upstream.
At the
2011 census, the locality of Oakey recorded a population of 4,529.
In 2014, the Department of Defense investigated a contamination caused by fire-fighting foams used at the Army Aviation Training Centre and warned residents not to drink
bore water
An artesian aquifer is a confined aquifer containing groundwater under positive pressure. An artesian aquifer has trapped water, surrounded by layers of impermeable rock or clay, which apply positive pressure to the water contained within th ...
.
The chemicals have been identified as
perfluorooctane
Perfluorooctane, also known as octadecafluorooctane, is a fluorocarbon liquid—a perfluorinated derivative of the hydrocarbon octane. It can be a good substitute for insulating oil in high voltage electronics. In addition to heat transfer app ...
sulphonate and
perfluorooctanoic acid
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA; conjugate base perfluorooctanoate; also known colloquially as C8, for its 8 carbon chain structure) is a perfluorinated carboxylic acid produced and used worldwide as an industrial surfactant in chemical processes a ...
.
The chemicals were used from 1970 until 2008.
A lack of testing of these chemicals means no conclusive impact on human health has been proven.
In 2020, a class action by residents by Oakey,
Katherine
Katherine, also spelled Catherine, and other variations are feminine names. They are popular in Christian countries because of their derivation from the name of one of the first Christian saints, Catherine of Alexandria.
In the early Christ ...
, and
Williamtown (all communities where the fire-fighting foams were used) was successful in establishing that news of the foam contamination had caused property prices in the affected communities to plummet. In December 2021, a 3-year study conducted by the
Australian National University
The Australian National University (ANU) is a public research university located in Canberra, the capital of Australia. Its main campus in Acton encompasses seven teaching and research colleges, in addition to several national academies an ...
announced they did not find conclusive evidence of an increased risk of cancer or other disease because of the contamination.
In the , the locality of Oakey had a population of 4,705 people.
Local government administration
Oakey has been part of
Toowoomba Regional Council
The Toowoomba Region is a local government area located in the Darling Downs part of Queensland, Australia. Established in 2008, it was preceded by several previous local government areas with histories extending back to the early 1900s and bey ...
since 2008. However, like many small towns in regional Queensland it has been administered by various local government entities over its history.
# Jondaryan Division (1879–1903)
# Jondaryan Shire (1903–2008) gaining Gowrie Shire (1903–1913) (part) in 1913, losing part to Millmerran (1913–2008) and Pittsworth (1913–2008) in 1913, gaining Newtown (1913–1917) (part) in 1917, gaining Drayton (1903–1949) (part) in 1949.
# Toowoomba Region (2008- )
Economy
Industry is rural based, processing livestock and grain. The district has a high concentration of cattle feedlots, one Abattoir, a stockfeed manufacturer, grain trading and transport businesses. There is a coal mining operations in the surrounding district, and a businesses servicing the
coal seam gas
Coalbed methane (CBM or coal-bed methane), coalbed gas, coal seam gas (CSG), or coal-mine methane (CMM) is a form of natural gas extracted from coal beds. In recent decades it has become an important source of energy in United States, Canada, Au ...
(CSG) industry further west have set up.
The township also provides services for agricultural and mining activities in the local area.
The Oakey Veterinary Hospital has a Specialist Equine Reproduction Centre.
Education
![Oakey State High School](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/01/Oakey_State_High_School.jpg)
Oakey State School is a government primary (Early Childhood-6) school for boys and girls at 24 Campbell Street ().
In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 344 students with 30 teachers (27 full-time equivalent) and 21 non-teaching staff (14 full-time equivalent).
It includes a
special education
Special education (known as special-needs education, aided education, exceptional education, alternative provision, exceptional student education, special ed., SDC, or SPED) is the practice of educating students in a way that accommodates th ...
program.
St Monica's School is a Catholic primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 75 Lorrimer Street ().
In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 138 students with 12 teachers (10 full-time equivalent) and 12 non-teaching staff (7 full-time equivalent).
Oakey State High School is a government secondary (7-12) school for boys and girls at 1 Campbell Street ().
In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 454 students with 44 teachers (42 full-time equivalent) and 32 non-teaching staff (23 full-time equivalent).
It includes a special education program.
The
University of Queensland
, mottoeng = By means of knowledge and hard work
, established =
, endowment = A$224.3 million
, budget = A$2.1 billion
, type = Public research university
, chancellor = Peter Varghese
, vice_chancellor = Deborah Terry
, city = B ...
has a campus for Equine Studies in the town.
Amenities
![StateLibQld 2 67323 Machine shearing at Jondaryan on the Darling Downs, Southern Queensland](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ee/StateLibQld_2_67323_Machine_shearing_at_Jondaryan_on_the_Darling_Downs%2C_Southern_Queensland.jpg)
The township has many amenities, including an Olympic-sized swimming pool and golf course. The golf course is located at the corner of the Warrego Highway and Mount Tyson Road.
The local RSL (
Returned Services League
The Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL) is a support organisation for people who have served or are serving in the Australian Defence Force.
Mission
The RSL's mission is to ensure that programs are in place for the well-being, care ...
) Club provides convention style facilities, and is the hub of the war remembrance activities for the local area on
Anzac Day and
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day (also known as Poppy Day owing to the tradition of wearing a remembrance poppy) is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth member states since the end of the First World War to honour armed forces members who have died in t ...
.
The town has well established daycare and pre-school centres.
Oakey has a local hospital providing emergency services and inpatient care as well as a large co-located nursing home facility known as the EAF McDonald nursing home. There are two private GP practices in the town.
The Oakey Library is located in the Oakey Civic Precinct at 60 Campbell Street between the swimming pool and the Community Centre. It boasts a 500-seat capacity Cultural Centre, and two multi-purpose sports halls at the two primary schools.
Oakey has a number of churches, including:
* St Monica's Catholic Church, 19 Campbell Street
* Oakey Uniting Church, 13 Cherry Street
* Scots Oakey Presbyterian Church, 4 Connelly Lane
The Oakey branch of the
Queensland Country Women's Association
The Queensland Country Women's Association (QCWA) is the Queensland chapter of the Country Women's Association in Australia. The association seeks to serve the interests of women and children in rural areas in Australia through a network of loca ...
meets at the Kenmore Library at the Anglican Church Hall at 5 Creek Street.
Attractions
The
Museum of Army Aviation is located at the airport. It displays aircraft and memorabilia dating from World War I to the present.
There are several motels and hotels in town providing accommodation, as well as a caravan park catering for tourists.
Climate
Oakey's climate varies through the year, ranging from hot, humid and stormy summers to cool, dry and sunny winters. Oakey frequently records temperatures below 0 °C, often approaching −5 °C in winter and above 35 °C in summer, occasionally rising to above 40 °C. Its lowest recorded temperature is −7.5 °C (18.5 °F) and its highest recorded temperature is 42.8 °C (107.2 °F).
Transport
Oakey is connected to Toowoomba and Brisbane by bus.
In popular culture
Oakey has been regularly mentioned on the Australian soap opera, ''
Neighbours'', with characters both originating from the town and moving to the town. One of the most well-known Oakey residents was Drew Kirk, and the town served as an important location for him and his family. In the 2001 season finale, Libby Kennedy went into labour in a barn while Drew and Stuart Parker were at a rodeo. Then, in 2002, Drew Kirk was thrown from a horse, sadly dying as a result. The Kirk family was revisited in 2018 when Drew’s son Ben visited the town to try and connect with the father he never knew. He is offered a job at his uncle’s garage and leaves his home in Erinsborough.
References
Further reading
* — includes Gowrie Little Plains School, Aubigny School, Crosshill School, Devon Park State School, Silverleigh State School, Boodua School, Greenwood State School, Kelvinhaugh State School
External links
*
University of Queensland: Queensland Places:Oakey
{{Darling Downs
Towns in the Darling Downs
Toowoomba Region
Queensland in World War II