 The conservation park was categorized in 2010 as being an IUCN Category Ia protected area.The land first received protected area status as fauna conservation reserves proclaimed on 16 March 1967 under the "Crown Lands Act 1929" in respect to Topgallant Island, Ward Islands and Pearson Island with exception to land in sections 12 and 13 which were under the control of the Australian government.On 27 April 1972, all of the land proclaimed as a fauna conservation reserve was reconstituted as the "Investigator Group Conservation Park" under the "National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972".