Oakey, Queensland

History

Oakey and the creek around which the town is located, were named for the river oaks that dominate the banks of the creek. 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. 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 railway reached Oakey and Jondaryan in 1867. Oakey Creek Post Office opened on 1 June 1869. It was renamed Oakey by 1878. 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 Oakey primary school opened in August 1874 with much celebration reported.

"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."

As early as 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. It was not until 1964 that a high school opened in the town.

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.

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.

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 Defense forces.

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.

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

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.

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- )

Geography

The town is situated towards the middle of the Darling Downs and the Toowoomba Region local government area. Oakey Creek, a tributary of the Condamine River, passes through the town. In January 2011 the Oakey Creek flooded, impacting 120 homes and businesses. In 2014 a Flood Early Warning System was installed upstream. It is surrounded by farms, and an open cut coal mine is located at Acland, 10 km north of 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 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.

Transport

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. Oakey is connected to Toowoomba and Brisbane by bus. The town is serviced by the Oakey railway station on the Western railway line. The airport, which primarily functions as the Oakey Army Aviation Centre is located on the site of the original World War 2 airbase. It 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.

Climate

Oakeys 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 41.8 °C (107.2 °F).

Industry

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 (CSG) industry further west have set up. The main town centre was redeveloped during 2005 by the council and now includes new shops, landscaping and tree plantings. The township also provides services for agricultural and mining activities in the local area. The Oakey Veterinary Hospital was established in 1952 and has developed a Specialist Equine Reproduction Centre.

Facilities and attractions

The township has many amenities, including an Olympic-sized swimming pool and golf course. The golf course is located at the Cnr Warrego Hwy & Mt Tyson Rd. There are several motels and hotels in town providing accommodation, as well as a caravan park catering for tourists. 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. Nearby attractions include the Jondaryan Woolshed and the Museum of Army Aviation. There is a War Memorial in Campbell Street, erected after the First World War, 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.

Schools

There are three schools in the town. These are St Monica's Catholic School Oakey (P-6), Oakey State School (P-67) and Oakey State High School (7–12). The University of Queensland has a campus for Equine Studies in the town.

Oakey State High School began classes on 28 January 1964. It is a co-educational school with average enrolments of around 420 students. 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 winnder of the The Showcase Award for Excellence in Community or Industry Partnerships by the Department of Education, Training and Employment. Oakey State School celebrated its centenary in 1974.