Oakey: Things to Do, Bernborough and the Army Flying Museum

Oakey is a small Darling Downs town about 28 km north-west of Toowoomba, and the reason to stop is a mix of horse racing history, army aircraft and a creek running through town. It is a short, easy drive from Toowoomba, and a good half-day out if you like aircraft or a country-town wander.

The town is named for the river oaks along its creek, and the spelling was changed from “Oaky” to “Oakey” in 1940. Most stops are in town, with one big exception: the Army Flying Museum, a short drive away at the airfield.

Bernborough, Oakey’s racehorse

A bronze statue of the racehorse Bernborough stands in the grounds of the Oakey Service Centre, run by Toowoomba Regional Council. Bernborough was foaled at Rosalie Plains in 1939 and won 15 races in a row, so he is the town’s best-known local.

The statue stands on a plinth with a plaque in a garden beside the service centre, so it is a quick stop and an easy first one in town.

Army Flying Museum

The Australian Army Flying Museum is on Museum Drive, near the Army Aviation Training Centre at Oakey. It shows aircraft and memorabilia from all eras of Australian military flying, and several aircraft are displayed outside.

Admission is free (donations are welcome). The museum lists opening hours of Wednesday to Saturday, 10 am to 3 pm, and says it is closed Monday, Tuesday and Sunday, from 23 December to 2 January, and on Good Friday. There is a kids’ area and an undercover barbecue area for picnics. Tours need at least a week’s notice and are arranged through the museum’s contact page.

A short history of Oakey

Pastoralists settled the area in the early 1840s, and the Jondaryan Woolshed, west of town, was built in 1859 to serve the wool industry. The railway reached Oakey in 1867, the town was surveyed in 1868, and the first land sale was on 28 June 1870.

During the Second World War, Number 6 Aircraft Depot was set up north of town to maintain and assemble aircraft. The airfield became the Army Aviation Training Centre in the 1970s and is now Swartz Barracks, a major helicopter pilot and maintenance training facility. That history is the story behind the flying museum.

Oakey Creek

Oakey Creek, a tributary of the Condamine River, runs through the town, and the town and creek are both named for the river oaks that line its banks.

Visitor centre, markets and the war memorial

The Oakey Community and Tourist Information Centre is in the historic railway station at 176 Bridge Street. It is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 10 am to 4 pm, and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10 am to 2 pm. It is closed Sundays, except on the third Sunday of the month, when it opens 8 am to 12 pm for the Lions Markets. It has wheelchair access, and it is closed on some public holidays and over Christmas and New Year.

The Oakey War Memorial in Campbell Street was unveiled in 1922 and is made of Rockhampton marble. It lists 332 soldiers from the Oakey district.

Planning your visit

• How long: Allow a couple of hours for the statue, the creek and the museum; add more if you take a museum tour.
• Best day: Wednesday to Saturday, when the museum is open, or the third Sunday for the Lions Markets.
• Cost: The museum is free (donations are welcome).
• What to bring: Water and a hat for the museum’s outdoor aircraft display.

Getting to Oakey and parking

Oakey is about 155 km west of Brisbane. By car it is about 130 minutes from the Brisbane CBD and about 30 minutes from Toowoomba. The Warrego Highway bypasses the town, so follow the signs into the centre.

Parking could not be confirmed on an official page. The Army Flying Museum is a separate drive from the centre, on Museum Drive.

Nearby

• Jondaryan Woolshed – the historic woolshed west of town, built in 1859.
• Cooby Dam – about 21 km away.
• Highfields Pioneer Village – about 23 km away.
• Cecil Plains – another Darling Downs town.
• More in the region: Toowoomba, scenic drives and museums.

You might also like

• Toowoomba Range – the lookouts above the Lockyer Valley on the way back to Brisbane.
• Queens Park, Toowoomba – gardens in the city, about half an hour away.
• Tallebudgera Valley (Gold Coast Hinterland)

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