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Sydney revellers gather to ring in new year Australia rings in new year, with Sydney's spectacular firework display at the forefront
(about 5 hours later)
More than a million revellers gathered at Sydney’s top vantage spots to ring in the new year under the glow of a multimillion-dollar fireworks display.More than a million revellers gathered at Sydney’s top vantage spots to ring in the new year under the glow of a multimillion-dollar fireworks display.
The display involved more than 7 tonnes of fireworks, while a ceremony honouring Sydney’s Indigenous peoples was held before the show began.The display involved more than 7 tonnes of fireworks, while a ceremony honouring Sydney’s Indigenous peoples was held before the show began.
Set to a soundtrack of some of 2015’s biggest hits, including Uptown Funk and Hold Back the River, the show lasted almost 15 minutes.Set to a soundtrack of some of 2015’s biggest hits, including Uptown Funk and Hold Back the River, the show lasted almost 15 minutes.
Related: New Year's Eve celebrations - liveRelated: New Year's Eve celebrations - live
Standing among the crowds of punters at Sydney harbour for New Year’s Eve stirred up nostalgia and a sense of homecoming for Anthony Tarabie, 42, who recently returned to Australia after many years living abroad.Standing among the crowds of punters at Sydney harbour for New Year’s Eve stirred up nostalgia and a sense of homecoming for Anthony Tarabie, 42, who recently returned to Australia after many years living abroad.
“Being overseas and watching the Harbour Bridge light up at midnight each year was always a bittersweet experience, so to be able to finally see the fireworks first-hand is something really special,” Tarabie said.“Being overseas and watching the Harbour Bridge light up at midnight each year was always a bittersweet experience, so to be able to finally see the fireworks first-hand is something really special,” Tarabie said.
His friend Michelle Flocco said she returned to see the city’s annual fireworks after 15 years as a show of resilience following international terror attacks during the year. “It’s about saying we’re not afraid, we’re here and we’re proud, we’re a community and we won’t be stopped from celebrating.His friend Michelle Flocco said she returned to see the city’s annual fireworks after 15 years as a show of resilience following international terror attacks during the year. “It’s about saying we’re not afraid, we’re here and we’re proud, we’re a community and we won’t be stopped from celebrating.
“You couldn’t keep me away from this place – just look at the view we’ve got,” she said, proudly gesturing towards her prime vantage point between the bridge and Opera House.“You couldn’t keep me away from this place – just look at the view we’ve got,” she said, proudly gesturing towards her prime vantage point between the bridge and Opera House.
The harbourside was already packed long before the family fireworks display at 9pm, with some preserving their energy by dozing on stretched-out picnic rugs.The harbourside was already packed long before the family fireworks display at 9pm, with some preserving their energy by dozing on stretched-out picnic rugs.
Meanwhile, in Brisbane, more than 100,000 people were expected to turn out for the largest fireworks display in Queensland’s history, to be set off from five barges and three rooftops. The show was planned to coincide with a display on the Gold Coast. Austrian tourist Karin Schulz fulfilled a lifelong dream of seeing the Sydney fireworks with her daughter Paula.
Melbourne let off 10 tonnes of fireworks to an audience of about half a million people. “It was always my dream to see it once,” Schulz said. “There’s fireworks back home, of course, but nothing quite like this.”
Celebrations were quieter on Victoria’s surf coast, with fireworks permits revoked between Torquay and Apollo Bay. Melbourne welcomed 2016 with its biggest fireworks display yet, sending nearly 10 tonnes of fireworks into the sky at midnight in a rooftop display.
A destructive blaze continues to burn in the area but a wind change on Thursday afternoon sent it away from Kennett River, Grey River and Wongarra and back into dense bushland. Evacuated residents from those towns are now allowed to go home. Olivera Ristevska from Reservoir and Mill Park man Ralph Di Ciocco were among about half a million people who travelled to the CBD for the spectacle.
A total fire ban was declared across south and central Victoria, with temperatures reaching 40C (104F) in many parts of the state. “Melbourne is beautiful. I couldn’t think of any other place to come to,” Ristevska said.
Sparklers can only be used indoors during total fire ban periods, the Country Fire Authority said. Kon Kamateros, there with his wife Hanne, said the city’s new year celebrations were unique.
“People from interstate, especially Sydney I think, don’t understand the feel of Melbourne,” Kamateros said.
The largest New Year’s Eve fireworks display in Queensland’s history marked the start of 2016 in Brisbane, an hour after the other eastern states.
A pack of especially keen revellers who welcomed 2016 in northern NSW then crossed the border into Queensland for a second celebration.
Emergency services said it was a mostly quiet night in the state capital where up to 100,000 people rang in the new year by watching the pyrotechnics at South Bank. The synchronised display was set off from five barges and three CBD rooftops.
South Australian celebrations were marred with violence after a Burton man allegedly stabbed another about 8pm on New Year’s Eve.