RDA Yorke and Mid North Region
About the area
Name origin
The Port Pirie Regional Council is named after Sir John Pirie, an original director of the South Australian Company, and for the port.
Location and boundaries
The Port Pirie Regional Council area is located in the Yorke and Mid North Region of South Australia, about 220 kilometres north of the Adelaide CBD. The Port Pirie Regional Council area is bounded by the District Council of Mount Remarkable area in the north, the Northern Areas Council area in the east, the Wakefield Regional Council area and the Barunga West Council area in the south, and Spencer Gulf in the west.
Included areas
The Port Pirie Regional Council area includes the localities of Bungama, Clements Gap (part), Collinsfield, Coonamia, Crystal Brook, Germein Bay (part), Huddleston (part), Koolunga, Lower Broughton, Merriton, Mundoora (part), Napperby, Nelshaby, Nurom, Pirie East, Port Davis, Port Pirie, Port Pirie South, Port Pirie West, Redhill, Risdon Park, Risdon Park South, Solomontown, Wandearah East, Wandearah West and Warnertown.
Land use
The Port Pirie Regional Council area is predominantly rural, with a city at Port Pirie and small townships at Crystal Brook, Koolunga, Napperby and Redhill. The majority of the population live in Port Pirie. Substantial industrial areas are located in the city of Port Pirie, including the Port which exports lead, zinc and ore. Rural land is used largely for agriculture, particularly cereal growing and grazing. The Council area encompasses a total land area of about 1,800 square kilometres.
Transport
The Port Pirie Regional Council area is served by the Augusta Highway, the Goyder Highway, the Spencer Highway and the Port Pirie Port.
Settlement history
European settlement of the area dates from the 1840s. A private township was surveyed in Port Pirie in 1848, although this was largely unsuccessful. A government township was surveyed in 1871, going on to become the main settlement in the area. Numerous smaller townships were also established during the late 1800s. Rapid growth took place from the late 1800s into the early 1900s, spurred by the establishment of the Port and the Smelter, and the opening of railway lines. The population fluctuated slightly from the 1960s to the early 2000s, and then was relatively stable.
Indigenous background
The original inhabitants of the Port Pirie Regional Council area were the Nukunu Aboriginal people.