Padthaway is in the Tatiara District Council, the state electorate of MacKillop and the federal Division of Barker.

[2] Padthaway was the name of the original pastoral station which was established on Bodaruwitj Aboriginal lands in this area in 1847 by a successful Scottish businessman, Robert Lawson.

[11] The historic Padthaway Estate complex is listed on the South Australian Heritage Register.

The first vineyards were planted here in 1964 and quickly transformed marginal grazing land into a top wine-producing region.

Agriculture is also strong in Padthaway with onion, olives and seeds being grown along with sheep and cattle which are reared for sale.

[11] Padthaway has a cluster of businesses located in the heart of town including a deli, general store, two rural service centres, an auto and engineering centre, a caravan park, and a park with a playground in the main street, Memorial Drive.

Other public amenities include netball and tennis courts, football oval, town hall, sports complex, medical clinic, playground, skate park and rotunda.

The Padthaway Conservation Park which is situated on a former coastal dune is located about 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) north-east of the town centre.

Tennis is currently played as a social competition on Wednesday nights for a six-eight-week season in the summer before Christmas.

Apex is a community group which operates in Padthaway composed of men between the ages of 18 and 45 who work together to promote social justice and raise awareness of charity causes by fundraising in interesting and creative ways.

The event was attended by many past, current and future students and staff and a time capsule was buried on the day.

Padthaway has a warm-summer mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csb), with very warm, dry summers (with high diurnal temperature variation) and cool, relatively wet winters.