Woodville, South Australia
Encyclopedia
Woodville is a suburb of Adelaide
, situated about 8 kilometres northwest of the Central Business District
of Adelaide
. It lies within the City of Charles Sturt
. The postcode of Woodville is 5011. Woodville is bound by Cheltenham Parade to the west, Torrens Road to the north, Port Road to the south and Park Street to the east, excluding the area of Cheltenham Park Racecourse
.
. It was a busy local centre in the 1950s and 1960s when General Motors Holden had a car manufacturing plant in the nearby suburb of Cheltenham
and because of its proximity to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital
in Woodville South
. Woodville Road was the hub of local activity with numerous commercial businesses. During the 1980s and 1990s, Woodville and its surrounds became home to many Vietnamese
refugees from the Vietnam War
. Decline set in in the 1980s upon the closure of the Cheltenham plant of General Motors Holden. Woodville became a depressed suburb, particularly during the 1990s. Since then, Woodville is undergoing a revival and many are now seeking residence in Woodville because of its architecture. Woodville Road, although not as a lively as it once was, is starting to develop a personality again. Woodville's inhabitants are still highly multicultural.
It was previously the home of the SANFL (South Australian National Football League - Australian Rules Football) team of the Woodville Football Club
. Woodville merged with the West Torrens Football Club
to form the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles in 1991.
Suburbs adjacent to Woodville: Woodville Gardens
, Woodville Park
, Woodville West
.
The local zone high school is Woodville High School
.
In 2005, the Woodville Warriors won the ABL (Australian Basketball League) championship, which is South Australia's state league. This was their first championship since 2000.
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, situated about 8 kilometres northwest of the Central Business District
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
. It lies within the City of Charles Sturt
City of Charles Sturt
The City of Charles Sturt is a Local Government Area in the western suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia, stretching to the coast.It came into being on 1 January 1997 as a result of the amalgamation of the City of Hindmarsh Woodville and the City of Henley and Grange...
. The postcode of Woodville is 5011. Woodville is bound by Cheltenham Parade to the west, Torrens Road to the north, Port Road to the south and Park Street to the east, excluding the area of Cheltenham Park Racecourse
Cheltenham Park Racecourse
Cheltenham Park Racecourse was a horse racing track located in the suburb of Cheltenham in Adelaide, South Australia. It is situated north-west of the centre of the city and approximately five kilometres from Port Adelaide...
.
History
Woodville was one of the first areas to be settled by European migrants in the mid-19th century, many establishing dairy farms in the vicinity. By 1853 Woodville consisted of 24 houses, a forge and a wheelwright’s shop. The Woodville Post Office opened around March 1856. It has many fine examples of colonial and federation architecture and was considered to be a genteel area. Many European migrants settled in Woodville and the surrounds after World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It was a busy local centre in the 1950s and 1960s when General Motors Holden had a car manufacturing plant in the nearby suburb of Cheltenham
Cheltenham, South Australia
Cheltenham is a suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It is located in the City of Charles Sturt.-Geography:The suburb lies between Port Road and Cheltenham Parade, which form its southwest and eastern boundaries respectively...
and because of its proximity to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Adelaide
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital is a 340 bed acute tertiary referral hospital in the western suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia.-History:...
in Woodville South
Woodville South, South Australia
Woodville South is a suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It lies within the City of Charles Sturt.Woodville South is the location of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, one of Adelaide's main hospitals, as well as Woodville Oval, the home of South Australian National Football League team, the...
. Woodville Road was the hub of local activity with numerous commercial businesses. During the 1980s and 1990s, Woodville and its surrounds became home to many Vietnamese
Vietnamese people
The Vietnamese people are an ethnic group originating from present-day northern Vietnam and southern China. They are the majority ethnic group of Vietnam, comprising 86% of the population as of the 1999 census, and are officially known as Kinh to distinguish them from other ethnic groups in Vietnam...
refugees from the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. Decline set in in the 1980s upon the closure of the Cheltenham plant of General Motors Holden. Woodville became a depressed suburb, particularly during the 1990s. Since then, Woodville is undergoing a revival and many are now seeking residence in Woodville because of its architecture. Woodville Road, although not as a lively as it once was, is starting to develop a personality again. Woodville's inhabitants are still highly multicultural.
It was previously the home of the SANFL (South Australian National Football League - Australian Rules Football) team of the Woodville Football Club
Woodville Football Club
Woodville Football Club was an Australian rules football club that competed in the South Australian National Football League from 1964 to 1990, when it merged with the West Torrens Football Club to form the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles....
. Woodville merged with the West Torrens Football Club
West Torrens Football Club
West Torrens Football Club was an Australian rules football club that competed in the South Australian National Football League from 1897 to 1990...
to form the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles in 1991.
Suburbs adjacent to Woodville: Woodville Gardens
Woodville Gardens, South Australia
Woodville Gardens is a north-western suburb of Adelaide 10km from the CBD, in the state of South Australia, Australia and falls under the City of Port Adelaide Enfield. It is adjacent to Woodville North, Mansfield Park, Ferryden Park, and Kilkenny. The post code for Woodville Gardens is 5012...
, Woodville Park
Woodville Park, South Australia
Woodville Park is a suburb in the northwestern suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia, around 8 km from the city centre. Woodville Park is bordered to the north by Torrens Road, to the east by Kilkenny Road and David Terrace, to the south by Port Road and to the west by Park Street....
, Woodville West
Woodville West, South Australia
Woodville West is a suburb of Adelaide, in the City of Charles Sturt.Woodville West Post Office opened on 3 February 1947 and closed in 1986....
.
The local zone high school is Woodville High School
Woodville High School (Australia)
Woodville High School, is a secondary school in Woodville, a north western suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It was opened at its current site in 1915, open to all ethnicities....
.
In 2005, the Woodville Warriors won the ABL (Australian Basketball League) championship, which is South Australia's state league. This was their first championship since 2000.
Further reading
- Hardy, M. (Comp., 1960): History of Woodville, South Australia, Vol. I: 1837 - 1874, Vol. II: 1875-1960 Corporation of the City of Woodville
- Marsden, S. (1977): A History of Woodville, Corporation of the City of Woodville
- Geyer, M. & Donovan, P. (1996): From Parklands to Sea Coast, City of Hindmarsh & Woodville