July Oakes was born on Texas Station on the Ord River. His father was an Irishman, prospector, and a returned serviceman. His mother was an Aboriginal woman who worked as a station cook. His father left them and returned to Melbourne when Oakes was young. Oakes went to a State school at Moola Bulla station for four years from the age of twelve. He worked on windmills and engines before becaming a stockman and working for the Duracks at Argyle cattle station. He later travelled around doing seasonal work on other stations. He was a member of the Kununurra Aboriginal Progress Association and the Mirima Council.
