More information about Troubridge.

Just around from the Troubridge Hill Lighthouse sits Troubridge Beach, tucked below a windswept cliff face at the bottom of a set of steps from the carpark. It is a semi sheltered surf beach with enough of a roll to make it one of the better boogie boarding spots on the peninsula, and arguably the best beach in the Edithburgh area.

The cliffs that line the walk toward the beach are a popular fishing spot, with anglers casting from the rocks all the way along the clifftop path. It is worth noting that this stretch of cliff is genuinely dangerous. The rocks can be slippery and the drop is significant. Take care, stay back from the edge, and never fish alone in this area.

Is Troubridge Beach good for swimming and surfing? Yes. The beach offers a comfortable swim and enough swell for bodyboarding. It is semi sheltered which takes the edge off the conditions without removing the fun entirely.

Is there camping at Troubridge Beach? No. There are no camping facilities at the beach itself. The nearest options are in Edithburgh township.

History about Troubridge.

The Troubridge name has deep roots in this stretch of coastline. The shoal, the peninsula and everything that bears the Troubridge name was named by Matthew Flinders in 1802 after Sir Edward Troubridge, Lord of the Admiralty.

The waters off this coast became notorious for shipwrecks. The Troubridge Shoal has officially been the cause of 33 wrecks and groundings, though local knowledge suggests the real figure runs into the hundreds. In 1850 alone, seven vessels ran aground in an eight month period. The Troubridge Island Lighthouse was completed in 1855, the second lighthouse to be built in South Australia, constructed from cylindrical cast iron segments shipped from Britain and bolted together on site.

The Troubridge Hill Lighthouse, which stands above the beach today, came later. Built in 1909 from distinctive custom made wedge shaped clay bricks, its unusual design was crafted to endure fierce coastal winds and the occasional earthquakes that shook the region. It was built to replace the ageing island lighthouse as the primary navigation light for this stretch of coast and still operates today.

One notable wreck in the area was the Clan Ranald, a ship of 2,258 tons fully loaded with bagged wheat and flour destined for London, which was wrecked off Troubridge Hill on the night of 31 January 1909 with the loss of 40 men. It remains one of South Australia's most tragic shipwrecks. The anchor of the Clan Ranald can be seen in the main street of Edithburgh today.