It was named in honour of the first chairman of the Swan River Conservation Board, which was formed in 1959.

[1] The island was formed in 1969 after a channel was cut through Garvey Park in an effort to alleviate the erosion caused by the flow of the Swan River.

[2] It has a stand of flooded gum and a fringing community of shorerush and lake club rush.

The understorey is predominantly exotic grass species which gives the island a parkland character.

Media related to Ron Courtney Island at Wikimedia Commons