Misplaced Pages

Download coordinates as:

• KML
• GPX (all coordinates)
• GPX (primary coordinates)
• GPX (secondary coordinates)

Oakey Queensland
Campbell Street, 2014
Oakey
Coordinates	27°26′02″S 151°43′16″E / 27.4338°S 151.7211°E / -27.4338; 151.7211 (Oakey (town centre))
Population	4,756 (2021 census)
• Density	37.419/km (96.92/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4401
Elevation	406 m (1,332 ft)
Area	127.1 km (49.1 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	28.0 km (17 mi) NW of Toowoomba CBD 155 km (96 mi) W of Brisbane 57 km (35 mi) ESE of Dalby 306 km (190 mi) ESE of Roma 591 km (367 mi) ESE of Charleville
LGA(s)	Toowoomba Region
State electorate(s)	Condamine
Federal division(s)	Groom
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 25.4 °C 78 °F 10.9 °C 52 °F 628.3 mm 24.7 in
Localities around Oakey: Jondaryan Devon Park Kelvinhaugh Yalangur Jondaryan Oakey Kings Siding Jondaryan Aubigny Biddeston Kingsthorpe

Oakey is a rural town and locality in the Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. The Museum of Army Aviation is located at Oakey Airport.

In the 2021 census, the locality of Oakey had a population of 4,756 people.

Geography

The town is situated on the eastern side of the Darling Downs and the Toowoomba Region local government area. Oakey Creek, a tributary of the Condamine River, passes through the town.

Oakey is one of the towns contained in the Queensland State Electoral district of Condamine and at the federal level it lies within the Division of Groom.

The town is surrounded by farms.

The town is bypassed by the Warrego Highway (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 (27°25′46″S 151°42′13″E / 27.4294°S 151.7036°E / -27.4294; 151.7036 (Boolee railway station))
• Oakey railway station, serving the town (27°25′52″S 151°43′13″E / 27.4311°S 151.7203°E / -27.4311; 151.7203 (Oakey railway station))

Oakey Airport is an airport (27°24′45″S 151°44′08″E / 27.4126°S 151.7356°E / -27.4126; 151.7356 (Oakey Airport)). It is located on the site of the World War 2 airbase. The Oakey Army Aviation Centre is the major user of the airport.

History

Oakey and the creek around which the town is located were named for the river oaks that dominate the banks of the creek.

19th century

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 400,000 acres (1,600 km). 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 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 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."

The school was later renamed Oakey Creek State School. In 1905, it was renamed Oakey State School.

20th century

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 2.5 acres (1.0 ha) and the church was a Gothic structure, 48 by 25 feet (14.6 by 7.6 m) with 14 feet (4.3 m) 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. 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, Sir Matthew Nathan. 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 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, 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, 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 hall beside the church was formerly the Maclagan Union Church.

The Oakey Power Station is a 332 MW dual liquid/gas-fired plant and was commissioned in December 1999.

21st century

The main town centre was redeveloped during 2005 by the council and now includes new shops, landscaping and tree plantings.

In January 2011 the Oakey Creek flooded, impacting 120 homes and businesses. In 2014 a Flood Early Warning System was installed upstream.

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. In 2020, a class action by residents by Oakey, Katherine, 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 announced they did not find conclusive evidence of an increased risk of cancer or other disease because of the contamination.

Local government administration

Oakey has been part of Toowoomba Regional Council since 2008. However, like many small towns in regional Queensland it has been administered by various local government entities over its history.

1. Jondaryan Division (1879–1903)
2. 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.
3. Toowoomba Region (2008–present)

Demographics

In the 2011 census, the locality of Oakey had a population of 4,529 people.

In the 2016 census, the locality of Oakey had a population of 4,705 people.

In the 2021 census, the locality of Oakey had a population of 4,756 people.

Economy

Industry is rural based, processing livestock and grain. The district has a high concentration of cattle feedlots, an abattoir, a stockfeed manufacturer, grain trading and transport businesses. There is a coal mining operation in the surrounding district, and a business servicing the coal seam gas (CSG) industry farther west.

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 School is a government primary (Early Childhood to Year 6) school for boys and girls at 24 Campbell Street (27°26′21″S 151°43′14″E / 27.4393°S 151.7205°E / -27.4393; 151.7205 (Oakey State School)). 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 program.

St Monica's School is a Catholic primary (Preparatory to Year 6) school for boys and girls at 75 Lorrimer Street (27°26′27″S 151°43′09″E / 27.4408°S 151.7193°E / -27.4408; 151.7193 (St Monica's School)). 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 (27°26′42″S 151°43′09″E / 27.4450°S 151.7193°E / -27.4450; 151.7193 (Oakey State High School)). 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 has a campus for Equine Studies in the town.

Amenities

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) Club provides convention style facilities, and is the hub of the war remembrance activities for the local area on Anzac Day and Remembrance Day.

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 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

1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Oakey (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Oakey – town in Toowoomba Region (entry 24998)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
3. "Oakey – locality in Toowoomba Region (entry 49179)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
4. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
5. "Boolee – rail station in Toowoomba Regional (entry 3660)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
6. ^ "Railway stations and sidings - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 2 October 2020. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
7. "Airports - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 22 October 2020. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
8. ^ "THE OAKEY DISTRICT". The Brisbane Courier. 2 May 1925. p. 15. Archived from the original on 25 December 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
9. Cook, Penny (2006). Discover Queensland Heritage. Corinda, Queensland: Pictorial Press Australia. p. 12. ISBN 1876561424.
10. The Oakey Region Tulk, Darren Australian Railway History, August 2008 pp251-264
11. "Queensland place names search". Archived from the original on 24 October 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
12. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Archived from the original on 15 May 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
13. ^ Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
14. "OAKEY CREEK". The Darling Downs Gazette and General Advertiser. Queensland, Australia. 12 August 1874. p. 3. Retrieved 26 January 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
15. Blake, Thom. "Scots Oakey Presbyterian Church (1906)". Queensland religious places database. Archived from the original on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
16. Blake, Thom. "Scots Oakey Presbyterian Church (1956)". Queensland religious places database. Archived from the original on 11 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
17. "NEW R.C. CHURCH AT OAKEY". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. LXV, no. 15, 943. Queensland, Australia. 16 February 1909. p. 6. Archived from the original on 11 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
18. "OAKEY R.C. CHURCH.—DEDICATION SERVICE". Darling Downs Gazette. Vol. LII, no. 8, 560. Queensland, Australia. 15 February 1909. p. 5. Archived from the original on 11 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
19. Blake, Thom. "St Monica's Catholic Church (1957)". Queensland religious places database. Archived from the original on 11 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
20. ""How Could There be a Brotherhood of Man Without the Heavenly Father"". The Catholic Advocate. Vol. IX, no. 438. Queensland, Australia. 30 October 1919. p. 17. Archived from the original on 11 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
21. Blake, Thom. "St Monica's Catholic Church". Queensland religious places database. Archived from the original on 11 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
22. "OAKEY ROMAN CATHOLICS". Toowoomba Chronicle. Vol. LIII, no. 255. Queensland, Australia. 27 October 1919. p. 5. Archived from the original on 11 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
23. "Christian Ideals". The Telegraph. No. 14, 640. Queensland, Australia. 28 October 1919. p. 5 (SECOND EDITION). Archived from the original on 11 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
24. "WAR MEMORIAL". The Brisbane Courier. 29 August 1922. p. 9. Archived from the original on 25 December 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
25. Walker, Helen; Gordon, Stella; Klein, Beryl; Cox, Edna (2014), Ninety years of memories : the history of the Queensland Country Women's Association Oakey Branch 1924 - 2014, Oakey, Qld. Oakey Branch, QCWA, ISBN 978-0-9925119-1-3
26. ^ "Oakey – Culture and History". The Sydney Morning Herald. 19 November 2008. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
27. "Bernborough Our Wonder Horse". Sunday Mail. No. 828. Brisbane. 3 March 1946. p. 12. Retrieved 26 January 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
28. ^ "Oakey Veterinary Hospital". Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
29. ^ Oakey State School (1974), Oakey State School centenary 1874-1974 : programme and historical souvenir, Oakey State School, retrieved 26 January 2017
30. Kevin Farmer (19 May 2014). "Oakey High celebrates half a century of education". The Chronicle. Toowoomba Newspapers. Archived from the original on 3 December 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
31. "OAKEY NEWS". Darling Downs Gazette. Queensland, Australia. 1 September 1916. p. 5. Retrieved 26 January 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
32. "2007 Showcase Awards for Excellence in Schools" (PDF). Department of Education, Training and Employment. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
33. "Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016-17" (PDF). State Library of Queensland. p. 16. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
34. ^ "Oakey Uniting Church". Churches Australia. Archived from the original on 11 November 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
35. Blake, Thom. "Oakey Uniting Church". Queensland religious places database. Archived from the original on 11 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
36. "Generation". ERM Power Limited. Archived from the original on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
37. "Town to meet over water contamination". Archived from the original on 7 November 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
38. "Defence warns Oakey residents not to drink bore water". 24 July 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
39. ^ Amy Remeikis (1 October 2015). "Queensland town in Defence water contamination scare". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 23 January 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
40. Fitzgerald, Roxanne (10 December 2021). "Major study of PFAS firefighting foam's impact on communities finds limited evidence of disease links". ABC News. Archived from the original on 5 February 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
41. Queensland, Queensland Government Statistician's Office, Queensland Treasury and Trade. "Historical Register of Local Government Names, Queensland, 1859 to 2008–09". www.qgso.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 23 January 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
42. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Oakey (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
43. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Oakey (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
44. ^ "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
45. "Oakey State School". Oakey State School. 6 March 2020. Archived from the original on 26 March 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
46. ^ "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
47. "Vision & Mission". St Monica's Primary School. Archived from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
48. "Oakey State High School". Oakey State High School. 11 October 2019. Archived from the original on 1 April 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
49. ^ "Oakey". Toowoomba Regional Council. 7 December 2012. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
50. "Home". Oakey Aquatic Centre. Archived from the original on 30 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
51. "Oakey Golf Club Incorporated". oakeygolfclub.com.au. Archived from the original on 27 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
52. "Oakey". Toowoomba Regional Council. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
53. "St Monica's Catholic Church". Churches Australia. Archived from the original on 11 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
54. "St Monica's Parish, Oakey". Catholic Diocese of Toowoomba. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
55. "Oakey and District Uniting Church". Oakey and District Uniting Church. Archived from the original on 4 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
56. "Scots Oakey Presbyterian Church". Churches Australia. Archived from the original on 11 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
57. "Oakey". Presbyterian Church of Australia OnLine Directory. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
58. "Branch Locations". Queensland Country Women's Association. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
59. ^ "Oakey Aero". Climate statistics for Australian locations. Bureau of Meteorology. June 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2018.

Further reading

• Oakey State School 125th celebration : October 22, 1999, Oakey, Qld., 2003{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) — 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

• Media related to Oakey, Queensland at Wikimedia Commons
• University of Queensland: Queensland Places:Oakey

• Towns in Queensland
• Towns in the Darling Downs
• Toowoomba Region
• Queensland in World War II