Outback Towns

Oakey

The town's moment of glory came with the birth of the brilliant horse Bernborough at Rosalie Plains in 1939. Bernborough became a legend. Carrying horrendous weights he won 15 consecutive races in three states between 22 December 1945 and 19 October 1946.

About Oakey

Oakey – Army Aviation Centre

Oakey was named after the river oaks on the nearby creek.

It was first settled in the early 1840s when pastoralists moved into the area and claimed large areas of land for grazing land but it was not until 1867, and the arrival of the railway line, that any kind of a township was created. In 1871 one daring entrepreneur opened a short-lived meatworks near the town. The plan was to tin and export kangaroo and wallaby under the dubious marketing name 'Australian Game'. The enterprise was unsuccessful and closed down in 1876.

Bernborough

The town's moment of glory came with the birth of the brilliant horse Bernborough at Rosalie Plains in 1939. Bernborough became a legend. Carrying horrendous weights he won 15 consecutive races in three states between 22 December 1945 and 19 October 1946. Taken to the USA he sired progeny that won over $US4.5 million in prize money. Bernborough died in the USA in 1960.

Museum of Army Flying

Oakey is now the home of the $13 million Australian Army Aviation Centre. The Museum of Australian Army Flying, recording the history of army flying, the RAAF and early history is located at the Oakey air base.

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