It is the largest of three islands within the bay with an approximate area of 28 hectares (69 acres).

It first obtained protected area status as a fauna conservation reserve declared under the Crown Lands Act 1929-1966 on 16 March 1967 and is currently located within the boundaries of the Innes National Park.

[1] It is also located within a habitat protection zone of the Southern Spencer Gulf Marine Park.

Species recorded included (but are not limited to): black-faced cormorant, Caspian tern, sooty oystercatcher and the little penguin.

[5] Little penguin breeding sites were noted in a 1996 survey of South Australia's offshore islands.