It was named after Jean-Charles de Borda (1733–1799), the French mathematician, physicist, naturalist and sailor, by the Baudin expedition to Australia during January 1803.

It is described as ‘a bold cliffy headland, 61 metres (200 feet) high’ with ‘the upper half of the cliff is formed of white limestone, and the lower half is very dark volcanic rock’ and that ‘the hills at the cape rise to a height of more than 152 metres (499 feet) and are covered with small scrub.’[1][3] Cape Borda was formed when the sea reached its present level 7,500 years ago after sea levels started to rise at the start of the Holocene.

[8][9][10] The coast near the Cape Borda lighthouse previously supported colonies of little penguins[11] which are now believed to be extinct.

Causes for local extinction are likely to include (but not be limited to) predation by increasing New Zealand fur seal populations and changes in prey availability.

[13] As of 2012, the waters surrounding its shores are part of a sanctuary zone located within the boundaries of the Western Kangaroo Island Marine Park.