It was the first fort to be built on Ibo Island, in 1764, to defend the Portuguese settlers and their trade from French, English or Madagascar pirates, and it is located by the islands harbour.

[1][2] Initially named Fort Santa Bárbara by governor Caetano Alberto Júdice who had it built, by 1809 it became known as São José.

[3][better source needed] It lost its military function when the fort São João Baptista was built in 1791.

The fort has an approximately rectangular plan, containing the troops' barracks and warehouse, and it was equipped with seven small-caliber iron guns.

It was restored in 1945 by the Mozambican Historical Monuments and Relics Commission, demolishing the buildings that had been erected between 1899 and 1900 that had de-characterized it.