[2][3] It has port facilities and transport options for people seeking to access the Whitsunday Islands and holiday destinations.

[3] The island was named by in May 1881 by Captain John Fiot Lee Pearse Maclear of HMS Alert, possibly after a crew-member of that ship.

[10] When the Proserpine Shire Council decided to construct tourist facilities in the area in October 1960, they created a town called Shutehaven.

[12] Whitsunday Regional Council opened the renovated Shute Harbour Marine Terminal in mid December 2021.

[4] There are regular bus services available to and from the port which take the winding road through Conway National Park towards the harbour from Proserpine, Cannonvale and Airlie Beach.