International Hotel

The International Hotel opened in 1875, 14 years before the smelters was operating. The hotel was previously known as Howe's Hotel after its original owner James Henderson Howe. James Howe was the first licensee, he was a former mounted trooper connected with the explorer McDouall Stuart. Later as a politician he was noted for his proposal that Federal parliament have the power to legislate for invalid and old age pensions. Not only was Howe a champion of the poor, he donated his parliamentary salary (MLC 1890-1918) to the City of Port Pirie.

The first council meeting was held in the cellar of the hotel in 1876, and the Royal English Opera Company performed at the hotel in 1881.

The name was changed to the International Hotel in 1892.