In 1846 the Thistle Inn was offered for sale. It was described as contiguous to the newly erected and extensive flour mills of Peter Green. The property had a frontage to the main road of 110 ft. There was a good and substantial brick house erected with a cellar and stone foundation occupying an area of 48 ft by 33 1/2 ft and containing nine rooms. There were 2 front parlours, a shop (19'6" by 14'6"), four bedrooms, two verandah rooms, a detached kitchen with brick built oven, servants rooms and store, men's hut, 6 stalled stable, hay loft, corn store, fowl house, piggery etc., and all was enclosed with a 3 rail fence. Potential buyers were reminded that immense advantages were likely to be realised from the peculiarly eligible situation - it being the first establishment on entering the town from the northern district where colonial produce may be disposed of.

Edward Hawkins was granted a publican's license for the Thistle Inn in October 1849 and still held the license in 1859.