Spirit of Devonport retired due to declining passenger numbers

For more than 160 years a ferry - or punt - has carried people from one side of the Mersey River to the other. But now the last Spirit of Devonport has been retired and those wanting to travel from east to west will need to catch a bus.

TASMANIA’S own ferry across the Mersey has made its last trip across the river after 163 years of service.

The Spirit of Devonport - painted up to match its bigger sisters the Spirit of Tasmania ferries - made its last run between east and west Devonport at the end of August.

“The sad decision has been made to discontinue the ferry service due to declining passenger numbers,” the operators aud.

TasPorts said the city had lost an iconic part of its maritime history

The last little ferry on the run was on the water for 37 years carrying residents and tourists from East Devonport to the city centre.

The New Spirit of Devonport crosses the Mersey River

The Bass Strait Maritime Centre said the ferry began when Devonport was known as Torquay (east) and Formby (west).

A punt was used from 1865 and 1901 and the Star of the Sea Catholic Church was floated across the river from east to west in 1898.

“It was only in 1925 that pontoons were put in - before that passengers clambered over the rocks and mud to get to the ferry,” the centre said.

“In 1996-97 the ferry service came into question but the community backed its continuation. For what may be the longest ferry service in Australia we hope there might be a future yet.”