The fate of Sydney's last two Lady-class ferries has been sealed, after about four decades plying the city's harbour.
Despite a campaign by locals and a petition, the Lady Northcott made her final regular service on Tuesday from Manly to Circular Quay, before sailing under the Harbour Bridge at about 1pm to be tied up at the Balmain Shipyard.
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Ferries struggle with Fun-day crowds
Tempers were frayed on Cockatoo Island when ferries were unable to cope with the massive crowds trying to depart
The other Lady-class ferry, the Herron, was berthed at the shipyard a week ago, marking the end of an era for crews and passengers alike.
Transport for NSW confirmed that both Lady-class ferries had completed their "final regular services" and would now be retired, following the entry into service of five of Sydney's six new Emerald-class ferries built in Hobart.
Lavender Bay artist Peter Kingston, who is part of a group campaigning to save the ferries, said Sydney was losing the last two heritage forms of transport, which had been a major drawcard for tourists travelling to Taronga Zoo from Circular Quay.
"It is a tragedy for Sydney – the city has lost a connection with its glorious past," he said. "They were built at a time when people took a real pride in building traditional double-ended Lady-class ferries."
Mr Kingston, who has painted the Lady-class ferries for decades from his harbourside home, said locals would continue to fight for the ferries to be returned to regular runs.
"The government doesn't answer any questions that we ask them. They seem determined to get rid of the Lady-class ferries for no good reason," he said. "We are not giving up."
Sydney's Lady-class ferries were named after the wives of NSW governors, and the oldest – which have long since retired from ferry services – date to the 19th century. Some have ended up as party boats and one as a fish factory in Tasmania.
Built in Newcastle, the Lady Northcott entered service in 1975, and the Lady Herron began regular runs on the inner harbour four years later.
Crews on the Northcott have been told they will begin "consolidation training" this week on Sydney's new replacement ferries.
Transport for NSW said the Lady-class ferries were retired because maintaining the two oldest vessels in the government-owned fleet was costly.
"Their daily operating costs are double that of the newer boats, while maintenance costs are around five times more than other vessels," it said.
"It is very difficult to find spare parts and last year this saw the Lady Northcott spend two months out of service while replacement components were either sourced, or custom made."
The lead transport agency will be calling for expressions of interest to run the two oldest ferries in the fleet as a "heritage operation".
The last of the six new Emerald-class ferries arrived in Sydney from Hobart on Tuesday, and crew training has begun for a new timetable next month.
The new 35-metre catamaran ferries have cost the government almost $52 million, and will be run by the city's main private operator, Sydney Harbour Ferries.
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