The name was first used in respect to a private sub-division of land within the cadastral unit of the Hundred of Goolwa.

Boundaries were created for the “long established name” in 1993 and were “discontinued and re-established in August 2000.”[1] The locality is bounded to the north by Port Elliot Road and to the south by the coastline with Encounter Bay.

[8] Goolwa Beach is located within the federal division of Mayo, the state electoral district of Finniss and the local government area of the Alexandrina Council.

The beach is composed of fine sand with waves averaging 2 metres (6.6 ft),[11] and is considered one of the most hazardous beaches of South Australia due to persistent high waves, strong currents and the regular formation of rips.

[12] A small section of Goolwa Beach near the Goolwa Surf Life Saving Club is patrolled Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays at a minimum during the summer season beginning early October and finishing April.