Before the arrival of Europeans, the land had been occupied by the Mouheneener people, part of the Nuennone or "South-East tribe," for possibly as long as 35,000 years.

[2] Abalone shell middens were discovered on Bellerive Beach in 1980, providing evidence of early Indigenous activity in the area.

[3] Historically, the beach has been a hub of local activity, used for exercise, beachcombing, horse racing, regattas, sailing, and swimming.

In 2015, the Clarence City Council developed a "master plan" for Bellerive Beach, which proposed amenities including a cafe, restaurant, and a bathers' pavilion.

Native mammals include the southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) and the water rat (Hydromys chrysogaster).

A variety of birds are also present, such as the musk lorikeet (Glossopsitta concinna), swift parrot (Lathamus discolor), and the Tasmanian masked owl (Tyto novaehollandiae castanops).