The iconic Queenscliff ferry has made its final journey from Manly to Circular Quay this week.
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On Wednesday, the ferry was retired after its 40 years of service to Sydney.
In that time it's estimated the vessel has travelled more than three million kilometres across Sydney's waterways.
For its final journey on Wednesday it was mastered by Austin Hart. Mr Hart is the son of the vessel's first ferry master who led the first trip in July 1983.
The Queenscliff is one of four ferries that will be retired to make way for newer, faster vessels.
Two remaining legacy ferries will continue operating in Sydney on weekends and public holidays in 2022.
But the farewell of the historic ferries has been marred by controversy with many locals saying they were an iconic tourist attraction.
A parliamentary petition in February garnered more than 20,000 signatures in the hopes that new Transport Minister Rob Stokes would overturn the decision.
In a statement, Northern Beaches deputy mayor Candy Bingham said the services were "being reduced to a shadow of its former glory".
"These ferries, along with the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, are icons of Sydney Harbour," she said.
"Just as London is famous for its red double-decker buses and San Francisco its cable cars."
The Maritime Union of Australia has shared the concern. The union's Paul Garrett said the Emerald Class vessels which are due to replace the retired ferries "still have not had all of their safety issues resolved".
He said it was unclear whether the newer vessels were equipped to handle the often dramatic swells in the Harbour.
The new ferries are expected to be in service as of November.