He began his sporting career in a wooden tub on the Macquarie Rivulet and ended it as champion sculler of the world.

Beach was said to have visited the sculler, Edward Trickett, but the date of his first race on Sydney Harbour is uncertain: the Illawarra Mercury, 1 February 1935, claimed 1875–76 but the Town and Country Journal, December 1881, recorded that he won the handicap skiff race for amateurs on Woolloomooloo Bay on the 24th.

On Boxing Day at Pyrmont he was beaten in the allcomers' handicap skiff race by A.

The race was on the Parramatta River was on 16 August 1884 and was rowed over a distance of 3 miles 330 yards (5.13 km) with a stake of £500 a side.

After the race, Hanlan could not accept the fact that his long reign had ended, blaming the Australian climate, the treacherous tides and an excess of hospitality for his defeat, which he took very badly.

Although Clifford made a grand attempt he was unable to overtake the leader who finished only a length ahead.

Beach put in a final terrific effort and increased his advantage and won amidst wild excitement by the spectators.

One indicator of how thrilled the residents of Double Bay were at Bill Beach's win against Hanlan was the testimonial presentation to his coach, Charles Amos Messenger.

On 27 March 1886 Beach left for London[6] and in August won the final of the International Sweepstake, against John Teemer, Bubear, Lee and others on the Thames for a prize of £1200.

[6] He was met by the president of the Rowing Association who congratulated him 'on his great achievements … [and] his steady, careful, upright and manly character'.

Welcomed as a hero by band and banners, he was presented to Governor Lord Carrington and his lady on the way to Sydney Town Hall where he was met by the mayor and the premier and given an illuminated address.

Beach’s final Title race was against his old foe Ned Hanlan[6] which took place on 26 November 1887.

After the race Beach announced that he would forfeit the title to his young training partner, Peter Kemp (rower), instead of accepting his challenge.

This action was controversial but Beach thus was the only World Champion sculler of his era to retire undefeated – the next was in 1938.

Nearby streets are named after some of the other Australian World Sculling Champions, vis Kemp, Searle, Stanbury, and (George) Towns.

Additionally, another nearby street is named after John Teemer, an American rower and one time opponent of Beach.