South Australia (Clare Valley)
Port Pirie
From Clare, the Main North Road heads to Jamestown, 65km north. To the west, a road branches off towards Crystal Brook, where there’s a hikers’ lodge at Bowman Park providing basic overnight shelter for hikers on the Heysen Trail. From here it’s not far up Highway 1 to PORT PIRIE, the fourth-largest urban centre in South Australia. 

This is the region's largest centre. It has always played a crucial role in the state's economy. Broken Hill silver, lead and zinc deposits have provided significant earnings for the city for generations, while grain from its hinterland has been shipped from the port for over a century. An ugly industrial city, its skyline is dominated by smelters’ chimneys: as the nearest seaport to Broken Hill, the lead and zinc smelting industry here dates back to the discovery of the rich vein of lead-silver-zinc found there in 1883.
The Port Pirie Tourism and Arts Centre (Mon–Fri 9am–5pm, Sat 9am–4pm; tel 08/8633 0439), on Mary Elie Street opposite the silos, promotes the world’s largest smelting works as a prime attraction, reason enough not to stop unless a tour of the Pasminco Metals BHAS smelting plant is high on your list (Wed & Sat 10am; free). Beyond Port Pirie, Telowie Gorge and Mount Remarkable National Park, in the southern stretches of the Flinders Ranges, are within easy reach.

Contemporary Port Pirie has a rich cultural life, and its location near the Flinders Ranges makes it a good base for visitors intending to explore further afield.

Attractions
  • 'CARN BRAE' Built in 1905, this stately home is one of Port Pirie's oldest and carries a National Trust classification. Its furnishings are late I9th century and include paintings, porcelain and glassware. A special feature is the collection of more than 2,500 antique, modern and national dolls.
  • PORT PIRIE AERODROME PICTORIAL MUSEUM Port Pirie played a significant role in World War II, when 4,000 civilians were taught to fly. The training camp was based at what is now the Port Pirie Aerodrome. The pictorial history of the base is on display.
  • PORT PIRIE NATIONAL TRUST MUSEUM Port Pirie's century old Customs House, the elegant Victorian pavilion style former railway station and the old police station are today the town's National Trust Museum. Displays include re-created room settings from c1900, railway and shipping history, an outline of Port Pirie's development and social history. The tower of the Old Station provides a fine view of the town, smelters, the river and wharves and the lower Flinders Ranges.

Events
  • FESTIVAL OF COUNTRY MUSIC (October) Port Pirie comes alive for this annual event during the October long weekend and features artists, live family entertainment and talent quests.