In the late 19th century, there were several prison confinement sheds on Lazarus island but they were left abandoned when a prisoner sentenced to life imprisonment on the island, made an escape. In 1902, a wild fire destroyed all the confinement sheds and in 1914, another major fire broke out, burning all of its vegetation.
There were plans by the Government to develop Lazarus island to a beach resort, but it never materialized.