Oakey
Postcode: 4401
Oakey is a rural town situated in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia. It is situated 160 kilometres west of the state capital, Brisbane, and 29 kilometres west of the regional city of Toowoomba. At the 2001 census, Oakey had a population of 3,460. Oakey is also the administrative centre of the Jondaryan Shire, which has a population of 13,229 persons (June 2002) and covers an area of 1906 square kilometres.
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. Industry is rural based, with emphasis on meat and cropping. A meatworks is located in the town. There are also mining operations in the surrounding districts. The main town centre was redeveloped during 2005 by the council and now includes new shops, landscaping and tree plantings.
Oakey is also the site of the Oakey Army Aviation Centre including the Museum of Australian Army Flying. The township also provides services for agricultural and mining activities in the local area.
The township has many amenities, including an olympic swimming pool and Golf course. 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 a junior state school and state high school, as well as daycare and pre-school centres.
Nearby attractions include the Jondaryan Woolshed, a large sheep shearing facility which has been preserved by the local community, and expanded into a tourist attraction and function facility. In its heyday, as part of the Jondaryan Homestead 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.