The headland was named by James Cook on 10 August 1770 as he charted the eastern Australian coast.

Cape Flattery is the location of the world's biggest silica mine.

The cape's local port is used for the shipping of silica sand from a local subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation, and exports the most silica sand internationally, with 1.7 million tonnes exported alone in 2007–08.

Average maxima are high year-round, ranging from 32.1 °C (89.8 °F) in January to 26.7 °C (80.1 °F) in July.

Annual rainfall averages 1,437.4 millimetres (56.59 in), with a maximum in late summer and a minimum in winter and spring.