The Mining Museum at Acland near Oakey

Oakey
Small country town in the Darling Downs.
Located 157 km west of Brisbane and 29 km west of Toowoomba on the Warrego Highway, Oakey is a small country town situated 402 m above sea-level. It was named, rather unimaginatively, after the river oaks on the nearby creek.

Like so much of the Darling Downs, Oakey was first settled in the early 1840s when pastoralists moved into the area and claimed large areas of land for grazing. 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.

The town's moment of glory came with the birth of the brilliant horse Bernborough at Rosalie Plains in 1939. For the first four years of his life Bernborough was restricted to racing in the local area (because of a ban the Queensland Turf Club had placed on his owners) and he became something of a legend on the tracks around Toowoomba. But then in 1945 he was sold to the well-known Sydney restauranteur, Azzalin Romano, who bought him for 2 600 guineas.

Over the next eighteen months, trained by Harry Plant and ridden by a young Athol Mulley, Bernborough became a legend. Carrying horrendous weights (he won the Doomben Cup carrying 10 stone 11 pounds and the Doomben 10 000 carrying 10 stone 5 pounds) he won 15 consecutive races in three states between 22 December 1945 and 19 October 1946. He seemed capable of winning at virtually any distance, from six to eleven furlongs. On 19 October, carrying 10 stone 10 pounds he lost the Caulfield Cup and Athol Mulley was replaced as rider. In the next race he fractured a bone and was forced to retire to stud. Taken to the USA he sired progeny that won over $US4.5 million in prize money. Amongst his progeny were Berseem, the champion sprinter in the USA at the time, and Bernwood who broke the world record for the mile. Bernborough died in the USA in 1960. His memory is honoured by the life-size bronze horse cast (the first in Australia) which stands outside the Jondaryan shire office. His trainer Harry Plant believed that Bernborough was the greatest horse ever to race in Australia.

Things to see:  

Bernborough
A life-size bronze horse cast (the first in Australia) stands outside the Jondaryan shire office in memory of this legendary local racehorse. His trainer Harry Plant believed that Bernborough was the greatest horse ever to race in Australia.

Flypast Museum of Army Flying
Oakey is now the home of the $13 million Australian Army Aviation Centre and it seemed appropriate that a museum should be established to record the history of army flying as well as the history of flight and the early history of the RAAF. The Museum of Australian Army Flying is located north of town, at the Oakey air base. Take the turn off the Warrego Highway to Acland and turn right across the railway line. It is signposted at the northern end of Oakey.

It is worth noting that flying is mostly the task of the air force and therefore this museum recalls the special role flying has in the army. Recognised as a superb collection it has a lot of material from World War I. The displays range from old uniforms to actual aircraft. There is a replica of a box kite as well as every aircraft flown by the army. These include the Sioux helicopter, the Link Trainer, an old Spitfire and a replica of Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith's Southern Cross. The museum is open from 8-4, Wednesday to Friday and 11-5 on weekends. Directions and information can be obtained from the information centre, next to the Jondaryan shire council chambers on the Warrego Highway. There you will find another small display relating to World War II memorabilia.

Brookvale Park
This commercial nursery has a large array of native plants in a garden setting. There are kangaroos and koalas around. Admission is free but access is by arrangement only, tel: (07) 4691 1833.

Acland
Acland boasts one of the most interesting coal mining museums in the country. Privately run the museum is sited on the old Acland coal field which was still operating as recently as 1984 and is regarded as the smallest coal mine in Australia. The museum is organised so that each visitor is given a tour of the mine which explains all the equipment and goes through the entire process of coal mining.

	Tourist Information
	Oakey Tourist Information Jondaryan Shire Library, 60 Campbell St Oakey QLD 4401 Telephone: (07) 4692 0154
	Motels
	Kellys Motel Campbell St Oakey QLD 4401 Telephone: (07) 4691 1109 Email: kellysmotel@optusnet.com.au
	Oakey Motel Toowoomba Rd Oakey QLD 4401 Telephone: (07) 4691 1000 Facsimile: (07) 4691 1034 Email: oakeymotel@ozemail.com.au Rating: ***
	Park House Motor Inn 27 Campbell St Oakey QLD 4401 Telephone: (07) 4691 1877 Rating: ***1/2
	Hotels
	Country Club Hotel Oakey 69 Campbell St Oakey QLD 4401 Telephone: (07) 4691 1026
	Grand Hotel 80 Campbell St Oakey QLD 4401 Telephone: (07) 4691 1219
	Western Line Hotel Cnr Bridge & Campbell Sts Oakey QLD 4401 Telephone: (07) 4691 1073
	Farm & Eco Holidays
	Moorlands Farmstay Oakey-Cooyar Rd Oakey QLD 4401 Telephone: (07) 4692 8215 Facsimile: (07) 4692 8176
	Caravan Parks
	Oakey Caravan Park 41 Queen St Oakey QLD 4401 Telephone: (07) 4691 1035
	Oakridge Caravan Park Warrego Hwy Oakey QLD 4401 Telephone: (07) 4691 3330
	Restaurants
	Henry's Chinese Restaurant 65 Campbell St Oakey QLD 4401 Telephone: (07) 4691 1410