page_title: Oakey, Queensland
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Oakey, Queensland / History
caption_attribution_description: English: The War Memorial in Oakey, Queensland, Australia, built to commemorate the First World War and inscribed with the names of over 300 locals who served in the war.
context_page_description: 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.
context_section_description: 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 on 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 
caption: The War Memorial in Oakey, Queensland, Australia, built to commemorate the First World War and inscribed with the names of over 300 locals who served in the war.
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