Antony Gibbs & Sons may only have intended to employ Great Britain to exploit a temporary demand for passenger service to the Australian gold fields following the discovery of gold in Australia in 1851, but the ship was to find long-term employment on this route. For her new role, Great Britain was given a third refit. Her passenger accommodations were increased from 360 to 730, and her sail plan altered again, to a traditional three-masted, square-rigged pattern. She was also fitted with a removable propeller, which could be hauled up onto deck by means of chains in order to reduce drag when the vessel was operating under sail power alone.