Beachport is located 37 kilometres north-west of Millicent, 80 kilometres west of Penola. In 1876, Geltwood, an iron hulled barque was nearing the completion of her maiden voyage from Liverpool, (bound for Melbourne) when the ship struck a reef and capsized. The ship was wrecked on a remote stretch of the south-east coast of South Australia; a week after this tragedy occurred, parliament passed a bill to establish a port at Beachport. Beachport was named after M.E. Hicks Beach MP and was officially proclaimed a port on the 21st November, 1878. In that year, the lighthouse and two houses on Penguin Island were completed. The first industry in the south-east of South Australia was a whaling station at Beachport, despite a lack of facilities, trade and the handling of cargo developed. The bay is now home to a thriving fishing fleet and is a popular mtourist destination. The main local industries are agriculture, viticulture, tourism, aquaculture, fishing, surfboard manufacturing and kelp fertiliser manufacturing.

Beachport offers something for everyone and is a fantastic place to visit, especially for RV travellers. For those looking for true relaxation, locals recommend visiting the Pool of Siloam to relieve aches and pains. Reputed to be seven times saltier than the sea, the ‘salt lake’ as it is referred to by the locals, has unusual buoyancy - a great experience for those who never mastered the skill of floating. However, if fishing is something that interests you, Beachport’s jetty, approximately 772 metres in length, is the second longest jetty in South Australia. Feel as if you are walking on water as you follow the jetty out into the bay. This is a popular location for local and visiting anglers of all ages.