Port MacDonnell (Fig. 4.3) was called a port long before the present harbour wall was constructed, thereby affording the harbour and boat additional protection from the southern storms. The harbour was constructed in the early 1970’s, cutting the beach in two, and subsequently as sand has built out in lee of the harbour wall, two additional groynes have further subdivided the beach. Today the once continuous beach consists of four man-made beach sections (beaches 8, 9, 10 and 11). To the east of the harbour is a 250 m long low energy beach (9), wedged between two rock groynes. This beach has be building seaward since the harbour was constructed, and the backing seawall built to protect the road, is now stranded 200 m from the shoreline. Most of the new land has been turned into a large grassy park dominated by an old fishing boat. At the western end of the beach is a 100 m long groyne and 200 m long jetty. The groyne has been built to prevent the boat ramp from being covered in sand. On the other side of the boat ramp is the very protected 250 m long harbour beach (10) which extends to the main harbour wall. This beach is essentially calm and often covered by seagrass debris. Small boats are moored off this beach, with larger boats out in the harbour. read more

Beach Length: 0.25km