Pirie Dogs

The Pirie Dogs are in plain sight, but we pass them, often without them (I think). 

They are amazing bollards made from the dogs (spikes) used in the old railway lines. The railway was big here in Pirie & still is important for carting for the Smelter. 

My understanding is that the bollards were made as part of a CEP (Commonwealth Employment Program), not sure when. The participants would have been local unemployed learning how to held, design & tap into teamwork & a bunch of other good skills that come from connecting & having completed something so functional & beautiful. Each bollard has a unique design & defines the edges of the platform area. 

The platform area has some great spaces including undercover areas dominated these days by pigeons instead of people. The buildings still house community groups such as the machine knitters (I think they’re busy on a Friday), the Gemstone group & model train people. There might be other users too. We have used the platform in the past (& will again for our NAIDOC week event) for markets and celebration events. It doesn’t happen much tho these days & the amphitheatre would need a bit of TLC to bring it up to scratch, but it’s a lovely space (I think). There used to be a nice mural on one of the buildings too, but like all outdoor murals, time has got the better of it. 

Along the platform, on one side, there has been some beautifully considered plantings of local native plants & trees. It is beautiful if a bit neglected (collecting rubbish). Some places the trees are taking over the platform.

I used to love walking my dog Zero along here & watchign the changing of the seasons & looking out for the flowers, particularly the hakeas.

The area at the back of the library sides up to the railway line & the yards with their bits and pieces. It’s quite peaceful in the midst of the business of the city.

Port Pirie has a few gems that are like quiet achievers, some people don’t give them a second thought or even know they are there. These spaces have not yet met their potential & are yet to recognised (in my opinion) for all their worth.

Ulrike/ Port Pirie Dogs