Pollen used the shellbanks of the island to produce lime for the brick and concrete industries.

[2] In 1918, the Avondale Road Board purchased the island, in order to harvest the shells to be used for construction projects, such as layering on footpaths.

[3] The island has been owned and managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC) since late 2005, when it was acquired from Ports of Auckland.

During the lease Forest and Bird identified the native plants and animals living there and prepared a management plan.

The main vegetation on the island is Juncus kraussii, Apodasmia similis and Plagianthus divaricatus, with smaller patches of New Zealand flax and Olearia solandri.