Virginia was first surveyed and established by Daniel Brady (born 1797, died 1889), a wealthy Irish settler who had arrived in South Australia on the barque, DIADEM, in 1840 with his wife, Rose (née Rudden), and their six children.

Daniel was one of the first settlers in the area with a land grant of 100 acres in Section 2186n, halfway between Dry Creek and the Little Para River in October 1848.

Initially wheat was one of the major crops planted at Virginia until Adelaide required large amounts of hay to feed the increasing number of horses being used for transportation.

[3] Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church was built in 1861 on land donated by Daniel Brady and is National Trust listed.

Even though Brady was Catholic he donated a block of land for the building of the Bible Christian Chapel named Bethlehem, in 1858 (National Trust listed).

From 1969 to 1974, Virginia was home to the Thunderbird Raceway, a dirt track speedway located at the towns Recreation Reserve (now the local Australian rules football and cricket oval).

Racing at Thunderbird took place during the winter months to complement Adelaide's then major summer speedway Rowley Park.

[6][7] City of Playford has secured funds from the Federal and State Governments to start the Virginia Main Street Upgrade project, which is expected to cost $8.8 millions.