The Tomatin site is one of three wrecks that sunk in the same gale along a three-kilometre section of the east coast of Wilsons Promontory.
Despite the likelihood of salvage of parts of the wreck soon after its loss, the fine sand bottom of the site would probably 'liquify' in storm conditions, allowing heavy material to become buried int he sediment.
The Tomatin site has the greatest potential for preservation of archaeological remains of the three sites, thus the site has the greatest potential scientific significance of any of the three sites.
In historical terms, Tomatin, Elmgrove and Miranda are significant as a group of nineteenth century coastal trading vessels.