The Manly Ferry "Queenscliff"

On this coming Wednesday (at 1.40pm Sydney time), the Freshwater class ferry "Queenscliff" will make its last journey from Manly to Circular Quay before being retired. I suspect that the 11 mile trip will be more full than usual as Sydneysiders farewell a boat that has been part of harbour life since 9 July 1983.

Sydneysiders have the same relationship with the big Manly ferries as Londoners do with the Routemaster bus, so two of the four ferries will be retained because that's what people want to see. The Freshwater class ferries are evocative of a former age: the early 20th century boats that were operating when I arrived in Sydney in 1967.

The new catamaran ferries are faster, cleaner but much, much smaller, carrying 400 people rather than the 1000 people the Freshwater class boats carry. Of course, when the Freshwater boats were introduced there was controversy because they replaced much larger (and much more elegant) boats that carried over 1,500 people.

It will be pleasant to be able to visit the parks around Sydney harbour without the booming engine note of the old ferries resonating all over the place - something Susan and I noticed with surprise when we were last in Sydney - but travel in Sydney may never have quite the illusion of romantic sea travel again.