ilha do governador, translated as island of the governor, was so named in 1568 when it became property of rio de janeiro's governor salvador correia de sá.

as the land was used for farming purposes, mills where required so the governor installed one on the land behind the beach area - as it was elevated, and allowing good views and control of the guanabara bay. praia do engenho velho (beach of the old mill), also known as quebra-côco (coconut breaker), as the name suggests is named after that very mill.