Heirisson Island is strategically located at the eastern edge of the Perth Central Business District at a narrow neck in the river between East Perth and Victoria Park. It is 1.3 kilometres long by 300 metres at its widest point and comprises a total area of 25 hectares.
The Island is centrally located near to several substantial development and activity centres including Burswood Peninsula, the Belmont Park Redevelopment and East Perth Riverside Project that will eventually be home to significant populations of people. It is also surrounded by high quality public open space including Burswood, McCallum and Langley Parks, plus the Point Fraser restored wetlands.
Historically the area consisted of two small islands surrounded by mud flats, which made it a natural point for crossing the river. In 1842 a toll bridge was constructed over the two islands and mud flats, close to the location of the current Causeway. When the mud flats were dredged to allow boats to travel upriver, the material was used to join the two islands together, creating a single island by 1900.
Heirisson Island had reached its current size by 1930 following further dredging and the dumping of building rubble, sand and soil. In 1955 the existing Causeway was constructed, effectively dividing the Island into two distinct areas.
The Island remained undeveloped until major landscaping works in the late 1970s, which transformed the island into its current parkland setting that supports low impact recreational activities. In 1975 Heirisson Island was vested in the City of Perth as an 'A Class Reserve'. The City has been responsible for maintenance of the parkland since that time.