The line opened on 20 January 1915 by Sir Henry Galway who was the Governor of South Australia at that time.

In September 1972, a track-removal train dismantled the track between Hallett Cove and Willunga.

The original corridor remains as the 34-kilometre (21 mi) long Coast to Vines Rail Trail.

There is some evidence of railway track remaining on this trail, notably near the South Road crossing at Hackham, the top of the Seaford Hill and a small section of track in a paddock adjacent to Victor Harbor Road, McLaren Vale.

[3] At the time of its opening, there was a proposal to extend it to Second Valley to connect with coastal steam shipping to Kangaroo Island for holidays, with the route already approved as far as Normanville and Yankalilla.