Wayville is a lively suburb located just south of Adelaide city in South Australia. It's super famous for being home to the Royal Adelaide Show, which happens every year at the Adelaide Showgrounds.

Wayville is surrounded by interesting places. To the north, you'll find Adelaide's beautiful South Parklands. The Adelaide-Goodwood railway line is on its west side. King William Road forms its eastern border, and streets like Leader Street mark its southern edge. A small stream called Keswick Creek also flows through the southern part of Wayville.

Wayville's Past: How it Began
Cool Places to Visit in Wayville
Learning and Education in Wayville
Getting Around Wayville: Transport Options
Places to Stay in Wayville
Famous People from Wayville
Animals of Wayville: Fauna
- Birds You Might See
- Other Animals
Plants of Wayville: Flora

Wayville's Past: How it Began

Wayville has a cool history! Back in the 1860s, this area was mostly open land used by a farmer for a milk business. He rented it from a company called the South Australian Company.

In the 1870s, a main road, King William Street, was extended. This road now forms the eastern border of Wayville.

The suburb was first divided into blocks for houses in 1881. But guess what? It was actually called Goodwood back then! It wasn't until 1899 that the area got its current name, Wayville. It was named after a respected person called Reverend James Way.

The first Wayville Post Office opened around 1909. During World War II, from 1940 to 1946, there was even a special Wayville Military Post Office. This was because the Showgrounds were used as an army camp during that time.

Cool Places to Visit in Wayville

Wayville has many interesting spots, especially some unique churches and buildings.

Community Halls and Churches

Latvian Hall (Talava): This hall, located on Clark Street, was built in 1966. It's a place for the Latvian community and is also rented out for events.
Emmanuel Anglican Church: Once an Anglican church on Young and Clark Streets, it was built in 1923. It closed in 2014 and is now used by the Healing Life Church.
St Michael the Archangel Church: This Roman Catholic church was first built in 1894. It was rebuilt in 1948 and is a significant part of the community.
Ukrainian Catholic Church: You can find this church on Davenport Terrace. It has a memorial for a Ukrainian boy scout who died in Vietnam.
St Peter's Latvian EV-Lutheran Memorial Church: Built in 1971, this church remembers those who served in the World Wars.
St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church: This beautiful church is located on Greenhill Road.

St. Peter's Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church
The Ukrainian Catholic Church
The St. Michael Roman Catholic Church
The Emmanuel Anglican Church
The Latvian Hall of South Australia

Adelaide Showground Farmers Market

Every Sunday, from 9 am to 1 pm, the Adelaide Showground hosts a fantastic Farmers Market. Here, you can buy fresh food directly from farmers and producers in South Australia. It's a great way to support local businesses and get delicious, fresh ingredients! You can enter the market from Leader Street.

The "Amphi Cosma" House

In Young Street, there's a really special house called "Amphi Cosma." It was built in 1914 by a famous builder named Walter C. Torode for himself. What makes it unique is its cool eight-sided (octagonal) shape and its strong concrete structure. It even has a central concrete pillar and beams that spread out like rays!

Amphi Cosma front
Amphi Cosma roof
Amphi Cosma side

Learning and Education in Wayville

Wayville is home to several schools and learning centers.

Annesley Junior School: Located on Greenhill Road, this school is for young children, from two years old up to Year 6. It started way back in 1902 as Methodist Ladies' College.
Alliance Française d’Adelaide: At 319 Young Street, this place helps people learn French and discover French culture. They offer French classes and even help with the Alliance Française French Film Festival.
Fusion Business College: This college helps train people for jobs in retail businesses. It's officially recognized by the Australian Government.
Central Queensland University Appleton Institute: Found on Greenhill Road, this is a research center that studies safety science.
SACE Board of South Australia: Also on Greenhill Road, this organization is in charge of the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE). They make sure students' learning is recognized and certified.

Getting Around Wayville: Transport Options

Wayville is easy to get to and from, with many ways to travel.

Tram Stops

The Glenelg tram line has two stops right in Wayville:

Greenhill Rd - Tram Stop 1
Wayville - Tram Stop 2

Just a little west of Wayville, in Goodwood, there's another stop called Goodwood Rd - Tram Stop 3.

Bus Routes

You'll find many bus stops around Wayville:

Three on Goodwood Road (stops 1, 2, and 3).
Five on Greenhill Road (stops 1B, 1C, 2, 2A, and 2B).
Two on King William Road (stops 1 and 2).

Roads and Bike Paths

Greenhill Road, on the northern side of Wayville, is part of a major road network called the City Ring Route.

If you love cycling, Wayville has many bike trails! Part of the Mike Turtur Bikeway runs along the edge of the suburb. This bikeway is super popular for cyclists traveling between the Adelaide city centre and Glenelg.

Places to Stay in Wayville

Wayville offers a few cozy places if you need somewhere to stay.

Rosemary's Place: At 7 Rose Terrace, this place has two small, comfortable apartments. It's great for people visiting from the country, offering easy access to medical and education services.
Rectory Cottage: This bed and breakfast at 15 Rose Terrace was built in 1900 as a pastor's home. It's a self-contained cottage with two bedrooms.
Rose Terrace Lodge: Located at 102 Rose Terrace, this is a facility that provides supported living for residents.

Famous People from Wayville

Many interesting people have lived or gone to school in Wayville:

Vickie Chapman: An Australian politician.
Sara Douglass: An Australian fantasy writer.
Oswald Bertram Lower: A chemist known for studying insects.
Sally Newmarch: An Australian rower who competed in three Olympic Games.
Scott McPhee: An Australian cyclist.
Joseph Albert Riley: A South Australian businessman.
Arthur Baker-Clack: An Australian-born painter.
Alison Mary Dolling: An Australian writer, also known as Mary Broughton.
David Penberthy: A well-known editor of a news website.
Kate Ellis: A former politician for Adelaide.
Walter C. Torode: The famous builder who built the "Amphi Cosma" house.

Animals of Wayville: Fauna

Wayville is home to a variety of animals, from birds to lizards and even spiders!

Birds You Might See

Laughing kookaburra: Known for its unique laugh-like call.
Noisy miner: A common and sometimes loud bird.
Piping shrike: This bird is so special, it's on South Australia's flag!
Superb fairywren: A small, brightly colored bird.
Crimson rosella: A beautiful parrot with red feathers.
Willie wagtail: A small bird known for wagging its tail.
Magpie-lark: Also called a peewee, it's a common black and white bird.
Rainbow lorikeet: A very colorful parrot.
Sulphur-crested cockatoo: A large, white parrot with a yellow crest.

Other Animals

Blue-tongued skink: A type of lizard with a blue tongue.
Redback spider: A small, venomous spider with a red stripe.

Plants of Wayville: Flora

Wayville also has some lovely trees and plants.

Lemon-scented gum: A tall tree that smells like lemons.
Jacaranda: A beautiful tree known for its purple flowers in spring.

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Wayville, South Australia Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.

Wayville, South Australia facts for kids

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