Port Pirie
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Port Pirie South Australia |
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The lead smelter and grain silos of Port Pirie, South Australia.
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 Port Pirie
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| Coordinates | 33°11′9″S 138°1′1″E / 33.18583°S 138.01694°ECoordinates: 33°11′9″S 138°1′1″E / 33.18583°S 138.01694°E |
| Population | 14,247 (2015) |
| Established | 1845 |
| Postcode(s) | 5540 |
| Elevation | 4 m (13 ft) |
| Time zone | ACST (UTC+9:30) |
| • Summer (DST) | ACDT (UTC+10:30) |
| Location | 223 km (139 mi) from Adelaide |
| LGA(s) | Port Pirie Regional Council |
| State electorate(s) | Frome |
| Federal Division(s) | Grey |
Port Pirie (post code: 5540) is the sixth most populous city in South Australia after Adelaide, Mount Gambier, Whyalla, Murray Bridge and Port Lincoln. It is a seaport on the east coast of the Spencer Gulf, 223 km (139 mi) north of Adelaide. At June 2015 Port Pirie had an estimated urban population of 14,247.
The settlement was founded in 1845 and is the site of the world's largest lead smelter, operated by Nyrstar. It also produces refined silver, zinc, copper and gold.
Prior to European settlement, the location that became Port Pirie was occupied by the indigenous tribe of Nukunu. The location was called 'Tarparrie', which is suspected to mean "Muddy Creek". The first European to see the location was Matthew Flinders in 1802 as he explored the Spencer Gulf by boat. The first land discovery by settlers of the location was by the explorer Edward Eyre who explored regions around Port Augusta. John Horrocks also discovered a pass through the Flinders Ranges to the coast, now named Horrocks Pass.
The town was originally called Samuel's Creek after the discovery of Muddy Creek by Samuel Germein. In 1846, Port Pirie Creek was named by Governor Robe after the John Pirie, the first vessel to navigate the creek when transporting sheep from Bowman's Run near Crystal Brook. In 1848, Matthew Smith and Emanuel Solomon bought 85 acres (34 ha) and subdivided it as a township to be known as Port Pirie. Little development occurred on site and by the late 1860s there were only three woolsheds on the riverfront.
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