The ferry service that connected the east and west of Tasmania's Devonport for more than 160 years — and was for many years a "lifeline" for the city — has made its final trip and will not return to the water.
The Spirit of Devonport service has carried commuters across the Mersey River between East Devonport and the city centre since 1855, making it one of Australia's longest-running ferry services.
But a significant decline in passenger numbers has rendered the service unviable, according to Kinetic, which took control of the ferry's operator MerseyLink earlier this year.
Kinetic's Tasmanian executive general manager, Daniel Head, said that in recent times passenger numbers had steadily decreased by about 8 per cent per year.
"We are seeing people are voting with their feet and moving towards utilising the bus services that are more frequent and operate 365 days a year," Mr Head said.
"The numbers aren't sustainable to be able to keep the service operating."
The ferry made its final trip in May before ceasing travel over winter. Mr Head has now confirmed the service will not resume.
He said the most recent vessel used to ferry passengers, the Torquay, was 37 years old and was now unsafe to operate.
"Safety standards continue to improve and the current vessel is well below what we would consider to be in a good and safe state to continue operating a public transport service," he said.
"Everything has a life span and at 37 years it's coming very close to the end of the road."
The cost of replacing the ferry would exceed $250,000, according to Mr Head.
'Fond memories for many'
Devonport's Mayor Annette Rockliff said while Kinetic's decision was "disappointing" for the community, it was understandable.
"It's sad for those of us who have been in the community for a long time," she said.
"It was very much a business decision, and an understandable business decision."
Mayor Rockliff grew up in East Devonport and said the ferry played an important part in her childhood.
"The ferry will hold fond memories for many," she said.
"I have very strong memories of coming across on the ferry, meeting my cousin, and going to the Bluff. That was part of our ritual during the summer holidays."
Funding for the service from the Devonport City Council dried up in June, and Mr Head said even with the money, the vessel would be operating at a loss.
End of an era for 'lifeline' ferry
Devonport has long been a tale of two cities, with a divide between the east and west sides dating back to early settlement.
The east was known as Torquay, and the west, Formby, before merging to become Devonport in 1890.
Dr Jaydeyn Thomas, from the Bass Strait Maritime Centre, described the ferry service as a "lifeline" for many.
"It has been a vital part in connecting both sides of the river for such a long time," she said.
"It's really important that people know we are a connected place, and being able to move across the river is an important part of that."
A bridge across the river wasn't built until 1899, and Dr Thomas said without the ferry, the only way to get to the other side was to travel for hours.
"For a very long time, the only way to the other side was to make the journey through Latrobe, which is quite a long way to go when you are in a horse and cart," she said.
In 1890, the ride across the river cost one penny. An adult ticket when the ferry last ran in May was $3.
The service has had various ups and downs, with some of the first fears for its future aired in the local paper in the 1950s.
Most recently, the ferry went out of action in 2014, not long after a fare subsidy from the state government ended in 2011. However, it resumed again a few months later in 2015.
"It seems to have gone in cycles of being quite popular and very useful, dropping off in popularity and then many questions about whether it should continue to run," Dr Thomas said
"Then it stops and then everyone goes, 'Oh, we actually need that ferry to run,' and so it starts up again."
In recent years, the ferry has had a limited operating schedule, as well as shutting down during winter and not running on Sundays.
The owner of MerseyLink has offered to donate both the ferry and the East Devonport pontoon to "a good home".
"We are open and committed to working with council over how a donation of the vessel and pontoon can be directed to keep this part of Devonport's history alive for people to see," Mr Head said.
