The Walkley Heights ymca was built in 1854, located on land that was the home of a prison.
 The suburb is located on land formerly comprising the prison farm for Yatala Labour Prison, and includes fifty-five hectares of land formerly owned by R. M. Williams which was compulsorily acquired during the time of former State Premier Sir Thomas Playford. 
 It was built in 1854 to enable prisoners to work at the creek, quarrying rock for roads and construction. 
