Virginia, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Virginia Adelaide, South Australia
Power substation in Virginia
Virginia Location in City of Playford
Postcode(s)	5120
Elevation	16 m (52 ft)
Location	15 km (9 mi) NW of Elizabeth
LGA(s)	City of Playford
State electorate(s)	Taylor
Federal Division(s)	Spence
Suburbs around Virginia: Riverlea Park Two Wells Lewiston Buckland Park Virginia Penfield Gardens Waterloo Corner Penfield

Virginia is a small town located just outside Adelaide, the main city in South Australia. It's known for its farms and gardens. The main highway, Port Wakefield Road, goes right through the area. Growing vegetables and fruits for markets is the most important activity here.

A Look Back: Virginia's History

Cutting lucerne (a type of plant) in Virginia around 1925 Sheep near a farm windmill in Virginia around 1924

Virginia was first planned and set up by Daniel Brady. He was a rich Irish settler who came to South Australia in 1840. In 1848, Daniel Brady bought 100 acres of land. He named the area "Cavan" after his home county in Ireland. He also chose the name "Virginia" for the new town.

Daniel Brady built the first important building in Virginia, the Wheatsheaf Hotel, in 1854. He also built the Cross Keys Hotel. This hotel helped travelers going north to places like Salisbury and Moonta.

Many early settlers in Virginia came from the British Isles. Some were Irish people escaping the Great Famine. Virginia became known as an Irish settlement. These early settlers worked very hard to clear the thick bushland. At first, they grew wheat. Later, they grew a lot of hay to feed the many horses used for transport in Adelaide. Before the railway opened in 1916, people traveled by Cobb and Co Stage Coach. Virginia was a stop on this long journey to Adelaide.

Virginia continued to grow. By 1858, it had a small shop and a post office. The Virginia Post Office opened around October 1856. Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church was built in 1861 on land Daniel Brady gave. It has a beautiful altar made of Italian and Irish marble. Brady also gave land for the Bethlehem Bible Christian Chapel in 1858. This church was used as a school for many years. A new Methodist Church was built next to it in 1937. By 1871, there was a blacksmith, and St Augustine's Church of England was built in 1873. Soon after, the first official school was built.

The Virginia Institute opened on November 9, 1908. It was lit by gas lamps. Over the years, this building has been used for many things. These include church events, dances, fairs, and a library. It is still used by the community today. In 1916, about 17 trees were planted next to the Institute. These trees remember the soldiers who fought in World War I. The Army also built a "remount depot" nearby during World War I. This was a place to train horses for cavalry units.

Fast Cars and Racing: Motorsport in Virginia

Virginia is home to the Adelaide International Raceway. This is a 2.41 kilometer (1.5 mile) long track for road racing. It opened in 1972. The raceway also has a special strip for drag racing. Plus, it has a half-mile (805 meter) oval speedway.

Right next to the Raceway is Speedway City. This is Adelaide's main track for dirt track racing cars. It is 430 meters (470 yards) long and opened on November 2, 1979. Both the Raceway and Speedway City are about 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) south of Virginia town.

From 1969 to 1974, Virginia also had the Thunderbird Raceway. This was a dirt track speedway at the town's Recreation Reserve. This area is now used for local Australian rules football and cricket games. It was first called the Virginia Fairgrounds Speedway when it opened in 1969. The name changed to Thunderbird Raceway in 1971. Racing at Thunderbird happened in the winter months. This was different from Adelaide's main summer speedway, Rowley Park.

Growing Virginia: Town Expansion

The City of Playford council plans to make Virginia much bigger. They want to add up to 580 hectares (about 1,433 acres) of land. This expansion would go north, west, and south of the current town. Virginia would reach Angle Vale Road in the north and Port Wakefield Road in the west.

Part of this growth is Virginia Grove. This is a new, award-winning housing area. It is located between Old Port Wakefield Road and Port Wakefield Road.

The City of Playford has also received money from the government. This money will help with the Virginia Main Street Upgrade project. This project is expected to cost $8.8 million. Work is planned to start in 2022.