It has been primarily used for grazing sheep and was also once the location of a proposed township called Kerrillyilla at the southern end of the island.

[6] Fauna species of conservation concern recorded on Boston Island or in adjacent waters include: bush stone-curlew, pied oystercatcher, sooty oystercatcher, fairy tern, eastern osprey, white-bellied sea eagle, Australian sea lion, New Zealand fur seal and southern right whale.

[9] On September 8, 2014 the Department of Defence investigated a suspected explosive mine located off the east coast of Boston Island.

A public exclusion zone was established and a team of Navy clearance divers was deployed to identify the object, defuse it if armed and arrange for its safe disposal.

[16] In 1885, a member of the South Australian Yacht Club described Boston Island as 'undulating and grassy, with clumps of trees planted by the hand of nature in such a charming way as would render bankrupt the taste of a landscape gardener to approach in regard to effect; it is a place which once seen will live in the recollection ever afterwards.

70; the Township of Kerrillyilla on Boston Island, under the Real Property Act by virtue of a sole uninterrupted possession by himself and predecessors for over 40 years (since 1859).

Under Certificate of Title, Volume 794, Folio 84, Joseph Kemp Bishop became the sole owner of the land once intended to be the Boston Island township.

[19] In 1928, the motor ship MS Minnipa of the Adelaide Steamship Company ran aground at Hayden Point, Boston Island in a thick fog.

In 1950, Boston Island was purchased by Wilfred (Bill) Hogan of Calca Station, Streaky Bay district.

[15] In 1954, Boston Island was purchased by H. P. Davis of Hamilton Downs Station, Alice Springs for the price of £49,200.