Oakey, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Oakey Queensland
Campbell Street, 2014
Oakey Location in Queensland
Population	4,756 (2021 census)
• Density	37.419/km2 (96.91/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4401
Elevation	406 m (1,332 ft)
Area	127.1 km2 (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 country town and area in the Toowoomba Region of Queensland, Australia. It's known for its rural setting and the Museum of Army Aviation at Oakey Airport.

In 2021, about 4,756 people lived in Oakey.

Exploring Oakey's Location

Oakey Creek, 2014

Oakey is on the eastern side of the Darling Downs. A creek called Oakey Creek, which flows into the Condamine River, runs through the town.

The town is surrounded by many farms. The main road, the Warrego Highway, goes around Oakey. There's also a major train line connecting Brisbane and Toowoomba to south-western Queensland.

Train Stations and Airport

The Western railway line has two stations in the area:

• Boolee railway station (27°25′46″S 151°42′13″E / 27.4294°S 151.7036°E / -27.4294; 151.7036 (Boolee railway station))
• Oakey railway station (27°25′52″S 151°43′13″E / 27.4311°S 151.7203°E / -27.4311; 151.7203 (Oakey railway station))

Oakey Airport (27°24′45″S 151°44′08″E / 27.4126°S 151.7356°E / -27.4126; 151.7356 (Oakey Airport)) is built on an old World War II airbase. The Oakey Army Aviation Centre uses it a lot for training.

Oakey's Past: A Journey Through Time

The National Bank in Oakey in 1916

Oakey and its creek got their name from the river oak trees that grow along the creek banks.

Early Days: 1800s

People started settling here in the early 1840s. They found the land was great for raising animals.

The Jondaryan Woolshed was built nearby in 1859 for the growing wool industry. It was huge, handling over 200,000 sheep! The first sheep were shorn there in 1861.

When the Western railway line arrived in 1867, a small town began to grow. It was first called Oaky. The town was officially surveyed in 1868.

The Oakey Creek Post Office opened in 1869 and was renamed Oakey by 1878.

Oakey Creek Vested School opened on August 10, 1874. It was later renamed Oakey State School in 1905.

20th Century Milestones

Scots Presbyterian Church opened in 1906. A new church building was built in 1957.

St Monica's Catholic Church opened on February 14, 1909. It was big enough for 200 people. This church was made larger in 1919 to also include a school.

St Monica's Catholic School officially opened on October 26, 1919.

The Oakey War Memorial was unveiled in 1922 to remember soldiers from the area. It lists 332 names from the Great War.

The Country Women's Association started a branch in Oakey in 1924. They celebrated 90 years in 2014!

During World War II, a large airbase was built near Oakey. It was called Number 6 Aircraft Depot (6AD). Almost 2,000 troops worked there. They fixed and tested planes like the P-51 Mustang and Supermarine Spitfire. This airfield later became an Army Aviation Training Centre. It's now a major place for training helicopter pilots.

Oakey State High School opened on January 28, 1964. The community had wanted a high school for a long time. In 2007, the high school won an award for its program helping students get jobs in transport.

In 1975, the Jondaryan Woolshed became a historical museum. It shows the history of farming in the area.

The Oakey Library opened in 1975 and was updated in 2014.

The Oakey Power Station started working in 1999. It can use both liquid fuel and gas to make electricity.

Oakey in the 21st Century

The town centre was updated in 2005 with new shops and landscaping.

In January 2011, Oakey Creek flooded, affecting many homes. A Flood Early Warning System was put in place in 2014.

In 2014, officials looked into contamination from old fire-fighting foams used at the Army Aviation Training Centre. Residents were told not to drink bore water. In 2020, a group of residents won a legal case. They showed that news of the contamination had caused property prices to drop. A study in 2021 found no clear link between the chemicals and an increased risk of serious diseases.

People Living in Oakey

The number of people living in Oakey has grown over the years:

• In 2011, there were 4,529 people.
• In 2016, there were 4,705 people.
• In 2021, there were 4,756 people.

Oakey's Economy and Jobs

Oakey's economy is mostly about farming. They process livestock (like cattle) and grain. There are many cattle feedlots, a meat processing plant, and businesses that make animal feed.

The town also has services for farming and mining in the area.

The Oakey Veterinary Hospital has a special centre for horse breeding.

Learning in Oakey: Schools and More

Oakey State High School, 2014

Oakey has several schools:

• Oakey State School is a government primary school for kids from early childhood to Year 6. It's 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, it had 344 students.
• St Monica's School is a Catholic primary school for kids from Preparatory to Year 6. It's 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, it had 138 students.
• Oakey State High School is a government secondary school for students from Year 7 to Year 12. It's 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, it had 454 students.

The University of Queensland also has a campus in Oakey for studying horses.

Fun Things to Do and Places to Visit

Machine shearing at Jondaryan on the Darling Downs

Oakey has many facilities for its residents:

• An Olympic-sized swimming pool.
• A golf course near the Warrego Highway.
• The local RSL Club, which hosts events and Anzac Day ceremonies.
• Daycare and pre-school centres.
• A hospital and two doctor's offices.
• The Oakey Library, located in the Civic Precinct at 60 Campbell Street.
• A Cultural Centre with 500 seats.
• Two sports halls at the primary schools.

Places of Worship

Oakey has several churches:

• 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 Anglican Church Hall.

Discovering Oakey's Attractions

The Museum of Army Aviation is a great place to visit. It's at the airport and shows off aircraft and items from World War I to today.

There are also motels, hotels, and a caravan park if you want to stay overnight.

Oakey's Weather

Oakey Methodist Church ca. 1912

Oakey's weather changes a lot throughout the year. Summers are hot, humid, and can have storms. Winters are cool, dry, and sunny.

It often gets below 0°C in winter, sometimes even near -5°C. In summer, temperatures can go above 35°C, and sometimes over 40°C.

The lowest temperature ever recorded was -7.5°C. The highest was 42.8°C.

Getting Around Oakey

You can travel to and from Oakey by bus, connecting to Toowoomba and Brisbane.