The coastal townsite of Seabird is located 100 kilometres north northwest of Perth between Guilderton and Ledge Point. It is 18 kilometres by road north of Guilderton. Like many similar coastal townsites in this region north west of Perth, the area was first settled by squatters. When this was reported on in 1965, a decision was taken to form a townsite, and the name "Chalon" after Chalon-sur-saone in France where the French botanist Leschenault was born. Pressure from the Shire of Gingin and local residents resulted in the name Seabird being adopted in 1968, the name being derived from the pastoral property within which it is located. The property name is named after the schooner "Seabird" which was stranded with a gaping hole in her port side in this area in 1874. The townsite was gazetted in March 1968.