We travelled to Port Pirie with our 9-year-old Kidsetter and dog in tow. Less than three hour’s drive from Adelaide, Port Pirie is the third biggest town north of Adelaide. As we were driving from Melbourne to Perth, Port Pirie was a perfect location to spend a night.
The city’s economy is driven by the huge silver, lead, gold, copper and zinc smelters which process the raw ore brought from Broken Hill. The substantial port services the surrounding rural areas.
Although it is primarily an industrial city it does have a gracious and impressive main street and some spectacularly notable and unusual buildings.
Our Kidsetter loved running along the jetty watching the local’s fish.
Of course, it was time to burn energy off at the nearby Flinders View Park. A shaded, scenic area located on the Port Pirie foreshore. The park features picnic tables and seating and overlooks the beautiful Pirie River and Flinders Ranges.
Next, we drove to Port Germein where the Flinders Ranges meet the sea. Located 27 kilometres north of Port Pirie, Port Germein is a tranquil haven.
Originally settled as a deep sea trading port in the late 1800s, Port Germein is now a peaceful seaside town of 200 residents, serving the local farming community and catering for ecologically sound tourism.
When Port Germein was a major seaport for wheat shipping it had the longest wooden jetty in the Southern Hemisphere. Those days are gone, but the structure of the 1881 jetty remains jutting out into the sea for local fishing.
The following day in Port Pirie, we explored The National Trust Museum located at the Railway Station. Built in a striking Victorian Pavillion style in 1902, features the narrow gauge steam shunting engine and Diprotodon bones found in Port Pirie.
The museum is a comprehensive display of nineteenth to twentieth century life. Displaying machinery, horse drawn carts, kitchens, dining rooms, bedrooms and clothing.
Our Kidsetter enjoyed climbing to the top floor to look out of the clock tower windows and admire the stunning view of the river and surrounding area.
Upon entry our Kidsetter was given an activity sheet listing questions he needed to investigate and locate the answers in each section of the Museum. A great way to keep Kidsetters engaged.
This historic seaport town, home to beautiful heritage buildings, fascinating industrial history and a blossoming cultural precinct is a town not to be missed with your Kidsetters.
