It is bounded to the south by First Avenue, and to the east by Liberty Grove, and to the west by Hanson Road.

Prior to the Second World War, Woodville Gardens mainly consisted of pastures, and open land.

From being a solidly working class suburb, mainly Anglo-Australian, with employment opportunities in the near-by Actil, General Motors Holden and other factories, new immigration changed the ethnic character from the 1970s.

It was also site of the Parks High School, which was closed at the end of 1996, due to declining enrolments.

There is an outdoor velodrome located in Woodville Gardens, which was opened in 1929 by the Kilkenny Amateur Cycling Club, leading to the construction of the banked arena in 1932.

It also became the home of the Woodville Professional cycling club, and at one stage the facility was used by Arn Bate and Dean Toseland, the national mile and 10-mile champions respectively.

The initial settlement of the suburb coincided with a large wave of immigrants from Eastern Europe arriving in Australia, following the Second World War.

It is one of the most pro-Australian Labor Party localities in South Australia, recording two-party-preferred votes for the ALP at the Ridley Grove Primary School booth at the 1998, 2001 and 2004 federal elections of more than 70% on each occasion.