In the late 1950's the sport of darts commenced in Port Pirie being played in hotels and as interest in the sport grew it was found that the competitions could not be completed by the 6 o'clock closing which existed at the time.
As a result alternative venues were sought with matches being played E.P.T Hall in Florence Street, and then at progressively larger premises. The Station Masters home (demolished) in the south yards, the Waterside Workers Federation Hall, the Band Hall (demolished), and finally the Railway Institute. A group of ladies also formed teams and played at the Cycle Club and the Band Hall.
Dean Muller, manager of the Pirie Hotel, watched these events with interest and instilled the idea that the Association should build their own club rooms.
A fund raising was committee and with the support of Mr. Charlie Wall who was the licensee of the Globe Hotel (Sporty's) acquired three blocks of land behind the hotel which were the old Cattle Stock Yards, located at 10 Geddes road, Port Pirie.
Although some work building the club room was performed by sub-contractors, the majority of work was undertaken by voluntarily by the members.
Members of the Port Pirie Darts Association held the first competition in their own club rooms in March 1969. The club grew from the humble beginnings to owning what is believed to the first clubs devoted entirely to the sport of Darts in Australia, all within 10 years.
On March 23rd, 1972 disaster struck the club when in the early hours of the morning the club was gutted by fire. The following morning enthusiasts set up dart boards among the debris.
At the time the club officials including the President, Mr Peter Dalton is recorded to have said, "Port Pirie has not changed, it is still the most friendly city I have ever seen, especially in time of need. Offers of assistance, club rooms, advise, and donations have come from almost every sporting body plus many business houses in Port Pirie. The first was made at 3.30am while the club was still burning, and Mr Bob Andriske, licensee of the Globe Hotel was actually fighting the fire."
The club secretary, Mrs Paulette Kossiedowski said, "I am unable to put into words, a thank you which benefits these people and their most unselfish offers of help. Competitions are again being held. The October singles, the largest in Australia, will be held. It took to long to get the reputation of being the biggest and I will not allow it to be lost."
A little later, Vice President, Mr Noel Neylon, officially announced, "Contrary to rumours of buying a local established club, the members, especially the Ladies, voted to rebuild the gutted club Rooms."
Mr Herman Hess is quoted to have said, "I am proud to be the Treasurer of a body with such will, to rebuild that they actually demanded I take donations before a fund was officially opened."
By the 9th June, the roof was on, the interior walls were panelled, and the ceiling fixers and electrician were expected the following day, but, again the majority of the work was performed by voluntary labour.
The 1980's saw a new era in Port Pirie Darts with three under 18 members, Wendy Lane, Brett Adams and Trevor Nunn being invited to form a country team with young players from Whyalla to compete in an unofficial competition against similar teams in Geelong.
In 1981, Mrs Maggie Ritchie asked permission to form a junior group. The club rooms were offered as a venue should sufficient interest be shown. A meeting was held at the end of June, and on August 1st these newcomers to the sport of darts welcomed teams from three other clubs.
Craig Richter, a local 10 year old, was presented with the inaugural Australian Encouragement Trophy for boys.
Junior memberships increased 30 during 1982 and was to become known nationally amongst the under 18's players as "The Mean Machine". The 1982 State Junior Team of 10 players, including two reserves, comprised six players from Port Pirie. The title of "The Mean Machine" was a compliment to the Port Pirie players for their skill, dedication and especially sportsmanship.
From 1982 to 1985, when the youngest of the group reached 18 years, "the Mean Machine" dominated the National championships. Junior players during this period were Kylee Mitchell, Merilyn Nunn, Sandra Promnitz, Michelle Russell, Trent Mitchell and Darren Russell with Shaun Oxford and Brian Fowler as reserves.
Both Kylee and Michelle were both members of the Australian under 18 girls team, and Darren captained the Australian boys team of which Trent was a member, Darren also held the National Singles title.
Following the State Team's run of six out of eight national titles in 1983, Trent Mitchell return to Port Pirie he was awarded the inaugural recipient of the Port Pirie Sporting Associations "Tracey Raferty Memorial Trophy".
The 1986 to 1987 season the younger juniors were determined to match the efforts of the original "Mean Machine" resulted in Richard Parker at the age of 16 years throwing the first 170 pegout by a junior player in South Australia, in October 1987.
Mr Peter May was the first senior to achieve this goal in May 1979 with only 25 senior players of the Port Pirie Darts Association have achieved this goal since then.
Other achievements by players of the Club are by Mr Charlie Jansen who won the Inland Darts Singles Championship which was one of the biggest dart events in Australia, Miss Wendy Lane who represented South Australia in the national titles in 1980, when under the age of 18. At this time there was no junior division. Mr John Irving and Mrs Barbara Norton both represented South Australia on four occasions. Barbara also represented Australia 1980, at the Puma South Pacific Championships.
In 2002 and 2019 the club hosted a darts competition during the Port Pirie State Masters Games.
Port Pirie Darts Association is a participant of the South Australian Country Darts Championship held annually around at venues around the state. Port Pirie having won the competition in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
The Club currently has three League nights Monday League - Mixed Fours Competition (2 Men 2 Women), Wednesday League - Ladies Fours competition, Friday League - Mens Six competition. Club opens at 6:30pm with matches commencing at 7:30pm.
Several invitational opens are held through out the year commencing with the Aughey Shield (Mixed Team Championship), Brian Clark Memorial (Ladies Championship) and the Flying Pisspot (Mixed Team Championship).
In September the Club hold the Barry Crawford Memorial competition which is an open to all dart players with a prize pool. The competition comprises of Ladies and Mens Singles championship, Ladies, Mens and Mixed Doubles championship
The League competition season runs between February to October each year. During the summer season the club is open for social games.
As a result alternative venues were sought with matches being played E.P.T Hall in Florence Street, and then at progressively larger premises. The Station Masters home (demolished) in the south yards, the Waterside Workers Federation Hall, the Band Hall (demolished), and finally the Railway Institute. A group of ladies also formed teams and played at the Cycle Club and the Band Hall.
Dean Muller, manager of the Pirie Hotel, watched these events with interest and instilled the idea that the Association should build their own club rooms.
A fund raising was committee and with the support of Mr. Charlie Wall who was the licensee of the Globe Hotel (Sporty's) acquired three blocks of land behind the hotel which were the old Cattle Stock Yards, located at 10 Geddes road, Port Pirie.
Although some work building the club room was performed by sub-contractors, the majority of work was undertaken by voluntarily by the members.
Members of the Port Pirie Darts Association held the first competition in their own club rooms in March 1969. The club grew from the humble beginnings to owning what is believed to the first clubs devoted entirely to the sport of Darts in Australia, all within 10 years.
On March 23rd, 1972 disaster struck the club when in the early hours of the morning the club was gutted by fire. The following morning enthusiasts set up dart boards among the debris.
At the time the club officials including the President, Mr Peter Dalton is recorded to have said, "Port Pirie has not changed, it is still the most friendly city I have ever seen, especially in time of need. Offers of assistance, club rooms, advise, and donations have come from almost every sporting body plus many business houses in Port Pirie. The first was made at 3.30am while the club was still burning, and Mr Bob Andriske, licensee of the Globe Hotel was actually fighting the fire."
The club secretary, Mrs Paulette Kossiedowski said, "I am unable to put into words, a thank you which benefits these people and their most unselfish offers of help. Competitions are again being held. The October singles, the largest in Australia, will be held. It took to long to get the reputation of being the biggest and I will not allow it to be lost."
A little later, Vice President, Mr Noel Neylon, officially announced, "Contrary to rumours of buying a local established club, the members, especially the Ladies, voted to rebuild the gutted club Rooms."
Mr Herman Hess is quoted to have said, "I am proud to be the Treasurer of a body with such will, to rebuild that they actually demanded I take donations before a fund was officially opened."
By the 9th June, the roof was on, the interior walls were panelled, and the ceiling fixers and electrician were expected the following day, but, again the majority of the work was performed by voluntary labour.
The 1980's saw a new era in Port Pirie Darts with three under 18 members, Wendy Lane, Brett Adams and Trevor Nunn being invited to form a country team with young players from Whyalla to compete in an unofficial competition against similar teams in Geelong.
In 1981, Mrs Maggie Ritchie asked permission to form a junior group. The club rooms were offered as a venue should sufficient interest be shown. A meeting was held at the end of June, and on August 1st these newcomers to the sport of darts welcomed teams from three other clubs.
Craig Richter, a local 10 year old, was presented with the inaugural Australian Encouragement Trophy for boys.
Junior memberships increased 30 during 1982 and was to become known nationally amongst the under 18's players as "The Mean Machine". The 1982 State Junior Team of 10 players, including two reserves, comprised six players from Port Pirie. The title of "The Mean Machine" was a compliment to the Port Pirie players for their skill, dedication and especially sportsmanship.
From 1982 to 1985, when the youngest of the group reached 18 years, "the Mean Machine" dominated the National championships. Junior players during this period were Kylee Mitchell, Merilyn Nunn, Sandra Promnitz, Michelle Russell, Trent Mitchell and Darren Russell with Shaun Oxford and Brian Fowler as reserves.
Both Kylee and Michelle were both members of the Australian under 18 girls team, and Darren captained the Australian boys team of which Trent was a member, Darren also held the National Singles title.
Following the State Team's run of six out of eight national titles in 1983, Trent Mitchell return to Port Pirie he was awarded the inaugural recipient of the Port Pirie Sporting Associations "Tracey Raferty Memorial Trophy".
The 1986 to 1987 season the younger juniors were determined to match the efforts of the original "Mean Machine" resulted in Richard Parker at the age of 16 years throwing the first 170 pegout by a junior player in South Australia, in October 1987.
Mr Peter May was the first senior to achieve this goal in May 1979 with only 25 senior players of the Port Pirie Darts Association have achieved this goal since then.
Other achievements by players of the Club are by Mr Charlie Jansen who won the Inland Darts Singles Championship which was one of the biggest dart events in Australia, Miss Wendy Lane who represented South Australia in the national titles in 1980, when under the age of 18. At this time there was no junior division. Mr John Irving and Mrs Barbara Norton both represented South Australia on four occasions. Barbara also represented Australia 1980, at the Puma South Pacific Championships.
In 2002 and 2019 the club hosted a darts competition during the Port Pirie State Masters Games.
Port Pirie Darts Association is a participant of the South Australian Country Darts Championship held annually around at venues around the state. Port Pirie having won the competition in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
The Club currently has three League nights Monday League - Mixed Fours Competition (2 Men 2 Women), Wednesday League - Ladies Fours competition, Friday League - Mens Six competition. Club opens at 6:30pm with matches commencing at 7:30pm.
Several invitational opens are held through out the year commencing with the Aughey Shield (Mixed Team Championship), Brian Clark Memorial (Ladies Championship) and the Flying Pisspot (Mixed Team Championship).
In September the Club hold the Barry Crawford Memorial competition which is an open to all dart players with a prize pool. The competition comprises of Ladies and Mens Singles championship, Ladies, Mens and Mixed Doubles championship
The League competition season runs between February to October each year. During the summer season the club is open for social games.