Thistle 1825 – 2837
The Thistle was a small Indian built schooner that played a significant role in Victoria's early colonial history before being wrecked at Port Fairy on Christmas Day in 1837.
A ship that helped shape Victoria
Built in Bengal, India, in 1825, the Thistle was purchased by the Henty family and became an important trading vessel across Bass Strait.
In 1834, it carried the Henty family to Portland, marking the arrival of the first permanent European settlers in what is now Victoria. The vessel also transported some of the colony's earliest exports, including the first recorded shipment of Victorian merino wool to Tasmania.
The wreck
On 25 December 1837, while collecting a cargo of wattle bark, the Thistle was caught in a strong south east gale and driven ashore at Port Fairy.
All five crew members survived, but the vessel was lost. Over time, the wreck became buried beneath the sand, while some of its timbers were reportedly reused in local buildings during Port Fairy's early development.
Maritime heritage
Archaeological investigations in the 1980s uncovered remarkably well preserved sections of the hull, providing rare insight into Indian shipbuilding techniques of the early nineteenth century. The Thistle is believed to be the only Indian built shipwreck in Victorian waters and one of only a handful known in Australia.
The site is protected under Victorian heritage legislation. Please help preserve this important piece of history by leaving artefacts where they are for future generations to discover and enjoy.
Location
Port Fairy, Port Fairy 3284 View Map
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Port Fairy ,
Port Fairy 3284
Port Fairy ,
Port Fairy 3284
Thistle 1825 – 2837