On Monday evening February 19 2008 one of Melbourne's venues with a difference sank before our eyes.

The Lady Chelmsford was 98 years old. She started life as a Sydney Ferry, and ended as a special floating restaurant, often accompanied by the sounds of a jazz band, or the dulcet tones of a Dean Martin sound-alike crooner.

Whilst she's not been sailing of late, she was just waiting for her turn in the dry docks for some loving restoration, which makes her slip beneath the waves at Melbourne's Docklands all the sadder.

Whilst MY Challenger and MV Mandalay continue to provide something special on Melbourne's waterways, there's no doubt The Lady Chelmsford will be missed by all those with fond memories aboard this gracious old ferry.