 In April 2011, two Australian tourists drowned when a large wave swept them out to sea as they posed for a photograph with their backs to the water at Point Ellen at the western end of the bay.Vivonne Bay was impacted by bushfires in January 2020 which necessitated the evacuation of Vivonne Bay township and surrounding areas on Thursday 9th January 2020


There is some evidence that a shore-based bay whaling station operated in the bay in the 1840s.A settlement known as Vivonne Bay is located on the coastline near the mouth of the Harriet River.