It was originally built in 1840 by William Couper, and the name 'Thistle Inn' probably comes from his Scottish background.

[2][3] Up until the reclamation of Wellington Harbour in 1876 the building was only a few metres from the shoreline and patrons often arrived by boat, including, according to legend, the Ngāti Toa warrior chief Te Rauparaha.

[2][3] The Thistle Inn was featured in "Leves Amores", a short story by Katherine Mansfield, written in 1907.

[6] In 2008 the Hospitality Association declared that the Thistle Inn was New Zealand's oldest pub.

[7] In 2015 The Dominion Post said it was "the oldest tavern and restaurant in New Zealand still operating on its original site".