She commenced service on the Australia Station on 5 March 1890, under the command of R. F. Ayscough.[1] She left the Australia Station in February 1901 and returned to England, where she was paid off at Devonport 10 June 1901 and placed in the fleet reserve to be refit at Haulbowline.[2] She became a tender to HMS Vernon and was converted into a salvage vessel in 1915 and was renamed HMS Melita.[1]
She was sold to the Ship Salvage Corporation on 22 January 1920 and renamed Telima. She was broken up in 1926.