The small port is located in the Limestone Coast region, about 477 kilometres (296 mi) south-east of Adelaide and 28 kilometres (17 mi) south of Mount Gambier, in the District Council of Grant local government area.

[11] The original inhabitants of the area are by the Bungandidj Aboriginal people, who refer to it as Ngaranga, possibly meaning "noisy" or "caves".

[10] Their oral history records that dry land previously extended southwards from the current coastline, before it was flooded by rising sea levels.

[9]: 23 The first Europeans to see the area were led by explorer Lieutenant James Grant in HMS Lady Nelson on 3 December 1800.

[13] In the 1880s, it was one of Australia's busiest ports, shipping large quantities of wheat and wool to Europe.