Woodville, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Woodville Adelaide, South Australia
St Margaret's Anglican church
Postcode(s)	5011
LGA(s)	City of Charles Sturt
State electorate(s)	Cheltenham
Federal Division(s)	Hindmarsh
Suburbs around Woodville: Cheltenham St Clair, Woodville North Woodville Gardens, Kilkenny Albert Park Woodville Woodville Park Woodville West Woodville South Beverley

Woodville is a suburb in Adelaide, South Australia. It's located about 8 kilometers (5 miles) north-west of the main Adelaide city centre. Woodville is part of the City of Charles Sturt local government area, and its postcode is 5011.

The suburb is surrounded by Cheltenham Parade to the west, Torrens Road to the north, Port Road to the south, and Park Street to the east. In 2021, about 2,180 people lived in Woodville.

One of its most important buildings is the Church of St Margaret of Scotland. It's on the corner of Port and Woodville Roads and is a special building protected for its history. There are also many other old and interesting buildings in the area.

A Look Back at Woodville's History

Woodville's Early Days: The 1800s

Long before European settlers arrived in South Australia in 1836, the Indigenous Kaurna people lived on the land that is now Woodville. They were the first inhabitants of this area.

People believe Europeans settled in Woodville because it was roughly halfway between the Adelaide city centre and Port Adelaide. A historian named Geoff Manning thought the name "Woodville" came from how the area looked back then, with lots of trees. He also noted there's a village called Woodville in Derbyshire, England.

The very first building recorded in the area was an inn (like a hotel) called "Halfway House." It opened in 1839. In 1878, a natural spring was found near the inn. The town of Woodville was officially planned out in 1849. The main shopping area was along Port Road, and Woodville Road used to be called Main Street. Woodville was part of the District Council of Hindmarsh until 1975.

By 1853, Woodville had 24 houses, a forge (where metal is shaped), and a wheelwright's shop (where wheels were made or fixed). The Woodville Post Office opened around 1856.

In 1854, a wealthy man named John Bristow Hughes bought a large house called St Clair. He made it one of the biggest homes in Adelaide at the time. He added an underground kitchen, a second floor, and turned the whole ground floor into a huge ballroom. This grand house was later taken down and replaced by the St Clair Recreation Centre in 1962. This recreation center is also important because it was South Australia's first big youth center and indoor sports stadium.

John Bristow Hughes also built the Church of St Margaret of Scotland in 1855. He wanted to name it after his late wife, Margaret. However, the Anglican Bishop of Adelaide, Augustus Short, didn't agree at first. After some discussion, they decided to name the church after both Margaret Hughes and St Margaret of Scotland, a patron saint. The church was officially opened in February 1856.

The Woodville railway station opened in 1856, making travel easier. Later, in 1878, Woodville Primary School and the Institute (a place for learning) also opened.

Woodville in the 1900s

Woodville High School opened its doors in 1915, providing education for older students.

In 1923, the car company Holden started a large factory nearby, which grew to employ 5,500 people. This factory had a big impact on Woodville and the surrounding suburbs, bringing many jobs and people to the area.

The Woodville Town Hall was built in 1927. It was also used as a picture theatre called the Star Theatre. It had two levels of seating and showed its first movie, We're in the Navy Now, on April 12, 1927. The cinema closed in 1974, but the building is now protected for its history and was renovated in 2010.

During World War II, a special railway line was built from Woodville station to a nearby ammunition factory in 1940. The railway station itself was also rebuilt. In 1942, the Actil factory was built to make cotton materials. After the war, many new migrants (people moving from other countries) who stayed at a nearby hostel found jobs at this factory.

Woodville was seen as a nice, respectable area. After World War II, many European migrants settled here. It became a busy local center in the 1950s and 1960s because of the Holden factory and its closeness to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (which opened in 1958). Woodville Road was a lively hub with many shops and businesses.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Woodville became home to many Vietnamese refugees who came after the Vietnam War. During the 1980s, Holden gradually moved its operations, leading to the closure of the Woodville factory.

In 1996, a new civic centre and library were built next to the old town hall. On January 1, 1997, the City of Hindmarsh Woodville and the City of Henley and Grange councils joined together to form the City of Charles Sturt.

Woodville Today: Location and Facilities

Woodville is surrounded by other suburbs like Woodville Gardens, Woodville Park, and Woodville West. It is part of the City of Charles Sturt local government area.

Places to Visit and Learn

• Woodville High School: This school opened in 1915 and is the local high school for the area.
• St Clair Recreation Centre: Located at 109 Woodville Road, this center was greatly improved and made bigger in 2018. It's a great place for sports and activities.
• Church of St Margaret of Scotland: This Anglican church is on the corner of Port Road and Woodville Road. It's a very old building that is protected for its history.
• Saints Volodymyr and Olha Church: This Ukrainian Catholic Church was built in 1963 and is also on Woodville Road.
• Woodville Christadelphian Hall: You can find this church on Aberfeldy Avenue.

Who Lives in Woodville?

In the 2016 Census, there were 1,999 people living in Woodville. About half were male and half were female. The average age was 39 years old.

People in Woodville come from many different backgrounds. The most common family origins were English, Australian, Italian, Irish, and Scottish. About 66% of people were born in Australia, which is a bit lower than the state average, showing how diverse Woodville is. Other common birthplaces included India, Italy, Vietnam, England, and China.

Most residents (62.7%) speak only English at home. However, many also speak other languages, with Italian and Vietnamese being the most common after English.

The average weekly income for people aged 15 and over in 2016 was $628. For families, it was $1,549 per week, which was slightly higher than the state average.

When it came to religion in 2016, the most common answers were "No Religion" (27.3%) and "Catholic" (26.8%). Christianity was the largest religious group overall.

Sports Teams

Woodville used to have its own semi-professional Australian rules football team called the Woodville Football Club. They played in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). In 1991, the Woodville team joined with the West Torrens Football Club to form the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles.

In 2005, the Woodville Warriors basketball team won the Australian Basketball League championship, which is South Australia's state league. It was their first championship win since 2000.

Woodville's Special Buildings and Places

Woodville has many beautiful old buildings, including examples of colonial and federation architecture.

Heritage-Listed Buildings

• St Margaret's Anglican Church: Located at 789-791 Port Road, this church was built in 1856 using limestone. It has a tall rectangular tower and special stained glass windows that honor local pioneers. A lych-gate (a covered gateway) was added in 1919 as a memorial to the men from Woodville who served in World War I. The church is important because it's one of the early churches built in Adelaide between 1836 and 1860.
• St Clair Recreation Centre: Built in 1962, this center is important because it was South Australia's first major youth center and indoor sports stadium. It was fully updated and made bigger in 2018.

Historic Conservation Zone

Large parts of Woodville, including the nearby suburb of Woodville Park, are protected as a Historic Conservation Zone. This means that many buildings in these areas are considered historically important. Some of these include:

• Mareeba Hospital and former Nurses Home at 19-21 Belmore Terrace.
• The former Woodville Private Hospital building at 2 Jelley Street (now a nursing home).
• The former Council chambers at 765 Port Road, and the Woodville Town Hall and Council chambers.
• The original school building and gates of Woodville High School.
• Several private homes on Woodville Road, Torrens Road, Stanley Street, and Belmore Terrace.

Many homes in Woodville are listed as "contributory items" to this Historic Conservation Zone, meaning they help keep the historical feel of the area.