Smelters at Port Pirie

Object Source: PRG 280/1/25/157

Date of creation : ca. 1919

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Format : Photograph

Distant view of the Broken Hill Associated Smelters at Port Pirie, South Australia

The BHP smelter was built in 1889, alongside an existing one built by the British Broken Hill Blocks mining company. A smelter in Broken Hill was closed down and all smelting operations were concentrated in Port Pirie. By 1934 Port Pirie had become the biggest lead smelter in the world as a result of the presence of the Broken Hill Associated Smelters (BHAS). Originally established in 1915, the smelter processed lead and zinc ore from Broken Hill.

The Port Pirie smelters are now operated by Nyrstar.

Because of the long association with lead smelting many of the residents are afflicted with high levels of lead in their blood.