P.S. THISTLE
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Statement of Significance
Thistle was a mid 19th century iron paddle steamer and has historical significance for being at the forefront of the Hunter River Steam Navigation Company's establishment and push further into the Hunter region. Within the Victorian wreck resource, Thistle is a rare example of the types of vessels that began to ply the Australian coastline as companies began to move away from wooden sailing vessels to increase speed and profit. There is some social significance attached to Thistle?s contribution to the development of Port Albert. Thistle demonstrates potential for high archaeological significance as the moving sand banks of the Port Albert entrance is likely to have protected much of the lower hull. Thistle therefore may provide unknown technical details of early iron shipbuilding and the techniques developed by pioneer engineer William Fairbairn. Thistle may also hold information pertaining to life on board an early iron paddle steamer.
Significance assessed against criteria defined in Guidelines for the Management of Australia's Shipwrecks (1994)
CRITERION 1. HISTORIC
Thistle has historical significance as one of the first vessels of the Hunter River Steam Navigation Company established in 1839 (a company that existed in various iterations into the 1960s). Three iron paddle steamers were purchased for the company in 1840: Thistle, Rose and Shamrock. The Hunter River Steam Navigation Company opened up the coastal trading routes into the Hunter Region. Thistle was bought into the Australian coastal trade at the forefront of the change from wooden paddle steamers to iron ones. Thistle was also involved in completing the first submarine telegraph cable joining Tasmania to the mainland.
CRITERION 2. TECHNICAL
Thistle may demonstrate technical significance as an early example of iron shipbuilding. The vessel was built by William Fairbairn, who was a pioneering engineer working extensively with iron. Iron shipbuilders are known to have deviated off ships plans so Thistle may have technical significance demonstrating any changes. Thistle's machinery was also adjusted on arrival into Australia to speed up travel time between Sydney and Newcastle. After these modifications, Thistle was 2 hours faster than Rose.
CRITERION 3. SOCIAL
The wrecking of PS Clonmel in 1841 was instrumental in the settlement of Gippsland and the establishment of Port Albert, Tarraville and Alberton. Thistle is socially significant to the developmental era of the area. By the time Thistle made its last voyage at the end of 1859, the area was beginning to expand and its fortunes improve. Thistle's passengers at the time included the Victorian Attorney-General, the member for North Gippsland and passengers and cargo intended for the establishment of new business ventures in Port Albert and Tarraville.
CRITERION 4. ARCHAEOLOGICAL
Port Albert has a reputation for being one of the more difficult and dangerous entrances on the south-east coast as the sand is highly mobile and the sand bars often shift, due to this PS Thistle has significant archaeological potential. Located on a sandy bottom, one engine and boiler are the only visible elements of the vessel that extrude above the seabed. It is expected that the hull below the sand is potentially well preserved. Thistle was built by William Fairbairn, an early adopter of iron to build ships, and as such the archaeology may demonstrate previously unknown details of early iron shipbuilding. Other technical details may also be found in the archaeological record such as adjustments made to the vessel's machinery and boilers to speed up the vessel upon arrival into Australia. As the vessel was not salvaged, there may also be archaeological remains to show what life on board a passenger/cargo paddle steamer was like.
CRITERION 5. SCIENTIFIC
Thistle is not currently the subject of any scientific studies.
CRITERION 6. INTERPRETIVE
PS Thistle is not currently the subject of any interpretation. Thistle does lie close to SS Blackbird which makes up part of the Underwater Shipwreck Discovery Trail (Lomdahl 1992) and Thistle could be added to this trail if it is updated.
CRITERION 7. RARE
Thistle is a rare example of a mid 19th century iron paddle steamer used in the cargo/passenger trade found in the Victorian wreck resource.
CRITERION 8: REPRESENTATIVE
Thistle is representative of the fleet of paddle steamers that plied their cargo trade along the Australian coastline and into the major rivers such as the Hunter River. Thistle is also representative of the type of vessel that was the major stepping stone from the wooden sailing ships initially employed in the cargo/passenger trade to the bigger iron and then steel screw steamers that would take over towards the end of the 19th century.