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 . 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. 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 and the church was a Gothic structure, with 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 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. 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. 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
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. == Local government administration ==