Using subversion

I’ve not been able to find any proper information, just hints that it’s possible, so I figured I’d ask:

How do I set up my webspace to be controlled by subversion?
i.e. such that I can check out and check in php and css… and hopefully even be able to see my local version of the site. (I have managed to get a local installation of WordPress up and running, and I’m on a mac)

Thanks,
Matthew