It covered parts of the Cape Town seashore, centred on its namesake suburb of Sea Point.

The first challenge to the Cape Qualified Franchise came with the Women's Enfranchisement Act, 1930 and the Franchise Laws Amendment Act, 1931, which extended the vote to women and removed property qualifications for the white population only – non-white voters remained subject to the earlier restrictions.

Throughout these changes, the electorate remained largely English-speaking, affluent and liberal, resembling those of the neighbouring Southern Suburbs region.

Its first MP was Gideon Brand van Zyl, who had previously represented Cape Town Harbour.

Eglin would hold the seat until its abolition in 1994, and remained a member of the multiracial, proportionally-elected National Assembly until 2004.