Julian Rocks Nature Reserve was reserved because of its importance as a nesting place for seabirds. It also provides foraging habitat for turtles.
The Julian Rocks are an important part of Country to the Bundjalung of Byron Bay (Arakwal) people and to other Bundjalung people and a significant and sacred Aboriginal site associated with a number of dreaming stories of the Bundjalung of Byron Bay (Arakwal) people and other Bundjalung people.