Section 3, subsection 4 of the Parks and Reserves Act 1895-1955 provided legislative scope for the the Rottnest Island Board of Control became a Body Corporate on 24 July 1956.

The Rottnest Island Board of Control became the Rottnest Island Board of Management "with power to sue and be sued in its corporate name, to acquire, hold, lease and dispose of real and personal property, to borrow money with the approval of the Governor and to do and permit to be done all things which are required by the Act to the be done by the Board...".

The Board continued to operate until 1988 at which time it became the Rottnest Island Authority came into being.