Oakey is a rural town and locality in the Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia.
Oakey is a rural town and locality in the Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Oakey had a population of 4,705 people.
History
Jarowair (also known as Yarowair, Yarow-wair, Barrunggam, Yarrowair, Yarowwair and Yarrow-weir) is one of the languages of the Toowoomba region. The Jarowair language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Toowoomba Regional Council, particularly Toowoomba north to Crows Nest and west to Oakey. Giabal is the Southern neighbour in Toowoomba City.Oakey and the creek around which the town is located, were named for the river oaks that dominate the banks of the creek.Originally named Oaky, the spelling of Oakey was officially adopted in August 1940.The area was first settled in the early 1840s when pastoralists moved into the area and found the land to be suitable for grazing. The building of the Western railway line through the area 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.
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 400,000 acres (1,600 km2). 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, the homestead landholding was reduced and separated to allow for soldier re-settlement programs.
The railway reached Oakey and Jondaryan in 1867.Oakey Creek Post Office opened on 1 June 1869; it was renamed Oakey by 1878.The town was surveyed in 1868, with the first sale being 28 June 1870.
Oakey Creek Vested School opened on 10 August 1874. In 1905 it was renamed Oakey State School. The opening in August 1874 was celebrated:"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 the 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."Burton Provisional School opened on 22 February 1900, ten miles from Oakey. On 1 January 1909 it became Burton State School. It closed on 5 December 1944.In early 1919, a new Catholic parish called St Monica's was established with Oakey at its centre. The first priest was Rev. Father Denis Matthew O'Keefe. He relocated the church to a more elevated 5-acre (2.0 ha) site and enlarged the building so it could be used as a church and a school. St Monica's School opened in 1919 and was operated by the Sisters of the Good Samaritan.There is a war memorial in Campbell Street, erected after the World War I, and at that time, 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 memorial was unveiled on 28 August 1922 by the Governor of Queensland, Sir Matthew Nathan.The Country Women's Association 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 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 the requirement for aircraft maintenance and construction exceeded the capabilities of Brisbane-based facilities. To expand the capability, a 934-acre (378 ha) site at Oakey was purchased to facilitate the raising of Number 6 Aircraft Depot (6AD). An airbase was sited approximately 2 miles (3 km) 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, P-51 Mustang, Norsemen, CAC Wirraway and Supermarine Spitfire aircraft. This airfield became an Army Aviation Training Centre in the 1970s, nowSwartz Barracks, a major helicopter pilot and maintenance training facility for the Defense forces.
St Jude's Anglican church was dedicated on 21 June 1953 by Reverend R. W. Shand and closed on 5 December 2006.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.
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.
Oakey State State High School opened on 28 January 1964. As early as 1916 there had been community interest in the establishment of a high school in Oakey, with the disadvantage of "scholars having to reside in Dalby, Warick, or Toowoomba, after passing the examination" acting as a deterrent to many parents from pursuing higher education for their children. It celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2014.Oakey State School celebrated its centenary in 1974.
The Oakey Library opened in 1975 and underwent a major refurbishment in 2014.The Oakey Power Station is a 332 MW dual liquid/gas-fired plant and was commissioned in December 1999.At the 2011 census, 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.The chemicals have been identified as perfluorooctane sulphonate and perfluorooctanoic acid.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.
Weather
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).
Things to do
The Oakey Army Aviation Centre located at the airport, also includes the Museum of Australian Army Flying, which displays aircraft and memorabilia dating from World War I to the present.
The Jondaryan Woolshed is open to visitors.