Woodville, South Australia

Infobox Australian Place | type = suburb
name = Woodville
city = Adelaide
state = sa


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lga = City of Charles Sturt
postcode = 5011
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pop = 1,975 (2006 census) [Census 2006 AUS|id =SSC42881|name=Woodville (State Suburb)|accessdate=2008-07-01| quick=on]
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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 Woodville Road to the east.

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. 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 II. It was a busy local centre in the 1950s and 60's 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.

References

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

External links

* [http://www.charlessturt.sa.gov.au/ City of Charles Sturt]