Port Pirie

Port Pirie is a city which is located on the eastern shore of Spencer Gulf, 229km north of Adelaide in South Australia. Port Pirie is the worldďż˝s largest lead smelting region, which is managed by Zinifex Limited. The city of Port Pirie proudly calls itself as ďż˝The City of Friendly Peopleďż˝. The city has largely developed into a mining centre and as a popular tourist destination.

Port Pirie was initially inhabited by the local Nuguna Aboriginal tribes. The region was then known as ďż˝tarparrieďż˝. The first European who explored the region was Matthew Flinders who sailed up the Spencer Gulf in 1802. The muddy inlet on which the port is built was formerly known as Samuelďż˝s Creek and it was in 1845 that the yacht owned by John Pirie reached the coastal plain. The town was named after this explorer, John Pirie. In 1876 Port Pirie was declared as a municipality and by 1934 it became the largest smelting zone of the world. In 1953, Port Pirie became the first provincial city of South Australia. At present, Port Pirie has become the second largest port of Australia.

Port Pirie experiences a temperate type of climate with summer temperatures of 31ďż˝C or more and winter temperatures of 16ďż˝C. The average annual rainfall of Port Pirie is 350mm in a year.

The region of Port Pirie is well-served by road and rail transport network. There is also an aerodrome at Port Pirie which is highly suitable for light aircrafts and is located very close to the town centre. The harbour handles more than hundred ships in a year, with the major exports of zinc and grain. The Port Pirie Community Bus services specially cater to the needs of elderly people and physically handicapped people. They provide pick-up and drop facilities for these people from their doorstep. These buses ply from Tuesday to Friday.

Port Pirie has a rich cultural extravaganza which is depicted at the Port Pirie Regional Art Gallery and at Port Pirie Regional Tourism and Arts Centre. The Regional Gallery showcases the works of contemporary artists as well as various craft items from the different parts of Australia. The Arts Centre is a must visit place for all arts lovers. It is also the home of National Trust Historic and Memorial Park. Every year in the months of September and October the city hosts a popular festival of country music.

Port Pirie is a vibrating city which is widely gaining popularity as a tourist spot. Some of the popular tourist spots are:

Memorial Park
Blessing of the Fleet
Carn brae
National Trust Historic and Folk Museum
Flinders Ranges
Port Pirie Lead Smelter
Solomontown Beach

Port Pirie also has extensive areas meant for shopping and tourists can buy local handicraft items at affordable prices. Port Pirie region has a wide variety of restaurants and cafes which offer Thai, Indian, Chinese, Italian, Mexican and various international cuisines of your choice. Some of the well-known restaurants in Port Pirie are Flinders Range Motor Inn, Port Pirie Motor Inn, Abbacy Motel, Port Pirie Chinese Restaurant, Junction Express, Symphony on the Park and Port Pirie Motor Inn.

Port Pirie has some great accommodation facilities which are offered at extremely affordable prices. Some of the well-known ones are: Hotel Newcastle Portside Tavern Federal Hotel Cabin Park Port Pirie Range View Caravan Park Sampsons Cottage