The island appeared on a map drawn by Father Simeone Volonteri and published in 1866, at that time it was marked as Ngau T'au Chü (Chinese: 牛頭洲; Jyutping: ngau4 tau4 zau1; Cantonese Yale: ngàuh tàuh jāu; lit.

[3] There is a rock formation currently called Ngau Tau Pai [ceb] (牛頭排), which connects to the island by intertidal zone.

[4] According to a book, Pai means rock, hill or mountain that locates in water body in general in the language of the Tanka people.

According to the historical document of the District Office South,[a] the island was uninhabited when it was part of the Port Shelter Firing Range.

It is part of Hang Hau East constituency of the Sai Kung District Council as of 2019 election,[11] despite the island being uninhabited.

[14][18] According to another research, Shelter Island has a high number of Drupella rugosa and Cronia margariticola, which preys on coral species Pavona decussata and Platygyra sinensis in the region.