The lighthouse was built to guide ships travelling along the Roaring Forties trade route heading into the Investigator Strait towards Port Adelaide.

Originally there was no road linking Cape Borda to the rest of Kangaroo Island and all supplies had to be hauled up from ships via a steep steel railway at a nearby cove known as Harvey's Return then taken to the lighthouse every three months.

[1] Its focal plane is situated at a height of 155 metres (509 ft), the light characteristic is a group of four white flashes that occurs every 20 seconds.

In 1999 the original fog signal cannon was restored, today it is fired daily at 12:30 hours.

[1] The lighthouse and surrounding cottages are looked after by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources while the top floor of the lightstation and the light itself is the property of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.