With an area of 114 hectares (280 acres),[2] it is one of the smallest of the Hauraki Gulf Islands.

The island's land use is primarily pastoral and plantations, but with some areas of native vegetation.

[3] The island was purchased from Sir John Logan Campbell by the McCallum family in 1894 (along with the neighbouring, much smaller Karamuramu Island).

[4] William Fraser McCallum and his brothers created a partnership in 1904 and quarried red chert on the island from 1906 until 1927,[5] used extensively to create concrete structures in the growing city of Auckland.

[6] As a wharf, they sank the first iron ship built in Auckland, the 1876 Rotomahana.