Baudin Beach is located on the north coast of Kangaroo Island, 12 km west of Penneshaw, off the coast of South Australia. It is named after the French explorer Nicolas Baudin who in 1803 anchored in nearby Hog Bay to take on fresh water. Prior to 2002, Baudin Beach was known as American Beach, the name given to the subdivision of the area in 1966. The name was changed to avoid confusion with the originally named American Beach which is located a short distance north of the subdivision. The original owner was Clem Bessell, and the sales agent Cliff Hawkins Pty. Ltd. The area is still often referred to as "Bessell's".
