July 29, 2026 — 4:57pmAn American businessman building a resort on the Solomon Islands was among several bidders who secured one of four retired CityCats on Wednesday afternoon.Still fitted with their blue and yellow interiors and iconic paint jobs, the ferries sold for a combined total of $184,250.The four retired CityCat ferries were kept at The Yard at Hemmant on the Brisbane River before they were sold. The first-generation boats were launched between 1996 and 1998, and named Kurilpa, Tugulawa, Mirbarpa, and Baneraba.Four separate auctions were run online, with the vessels kept on land at The Yard in Hemmant on the Brisbane River.Seller Adrian Seiffert said interest came from across the globe.External CityCat branding was stripped, but the ferries kept their original interiors carrying the council logo. Baneraba, which had served for the fewest hours, attracted the highest price at $57,000. It is the boat destined for the Solomon Islands.Kurilpa went for $54,000. Seiffert said he believed its buyer was planning to convert it into a “liveaboard” residence with internal rooms.Tugulawa and Mirbarpa sold to the same person for $40,750 and $32,500 respectively. They would likely be adapted for use as commercial barges.Images showed the boats had substantial corrosion and damage in some areas.The boats are made of aluminium and fibreglass, with each powered by two six-cylinder diesel engines producing 355 horsepower.They have a top speed of about 25 knots, or 46 kilometres per hour.Capacity is limited to 149 passengers, and the listing boasted of “wheelchair and pram access [with] toilet facilities”.The retired CityCats – Kurilpa, Tugulawa, Mirbarpa, and Baneraba – were brought into service between 1996 and 1998. Seiffert sold the boats through Marineauctions.com on behalf of RiverCity Ferries, which has the contract with Brisbane City Council to run its river ferry service.The auction was highly competitive, running more than two hours overtime due to a high number of late bids.Brisbane City Council previously confirmed the boats had been retired due to the introduction of the NextGen double-decker CityCats.Some individuals expressed interest in converting the Brisbane CityCats for private use and living. External branding was removed, but upholstery on chairs still carried the council logo when sold. Images showed the boads had substantial corrosion, and damage in some areas.The auctions ran from July 23 to 29, 2026. More than 500 bids were lodged, with the starting offer for each boat just $250.In 2025 the famous Kookaburra Queen sold to a mystery buyer on the Gold Coast for $550,000. It later sank while docked, with the cause a mystery.Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.From our partners