Sydney New Year's Eve: The lightbulb moment

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This was published 9 years ago

Sydney New Year's Eve: The lightbulb moment

By Damien Murphy
Updated

And Sydney said: "Let there be light".

Sydney became the first place on the planet to embrace the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies as more than 1.5 million people lining the foreshores welcomed in the new year watching a big lightbulb burst into life on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

At homes and parties around Australia, millions tuned into the live telecast to see $750,000 worth of fireworks go up in smoke. In the CBD, thousands wandered with heels in their hands, selfie-sticks at the ready and glow sticks fashioned into headdresses.

Sydney's pyrotechnic g'day to another year was also beamed out to an estimated billion people around the world.

More than one million people packed the foreshores for the best views of the fireworks displays.

More than one million people packed the foreshores for the best views of the fireworks displays. Credit: Wolter Peeters

People had started gathering at vantage spots days ago. By mid-afternoon Wednesday, favoured viewing platforms at Kirribilli, Bradleys Head, North Head, and Nielsen Park reached standing room only. The Sydney Opera House site was filled to capacity just after lunch. On the harbour, it was wall-to-wall boats.

The 9pm family fireworks were a symphony of reds, greens, pinks, blues and whites across the harbour skies, followed by a waterfall of red and yellow sparks that hurtled from the bottom of the Harbour Bridge. The early display culminated with the first Sydney Harbour Bridge effect of the evening that celebrated one of the most unique locals: the Sydney seahorse.

The night light continued with a Harbour Light P

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Rockets, bombs and illuminations all blew to synchronised soundtracks that placed the London Philharmonic Orchestra cheek by jowl with One Direction, Michael Jackson, Pharrel Williams, INXS and Tchaikovsky. In the centennial year of the Gallipoli landings, organisers did not neglect an Anzac touch and included works by New Zealand performers Lorde and Dave Dobbyn.

Fireworks light up the Sydney sky.

Fireworks light up the Sydney sky.Credit: Wolter Peeters

The midnight fireworks filled the night sky with sparks and the city with smoke as the crackers exploded. At the end of the 15-minute bonanza, the bridge blazed with the red outline of a 12-storey high lightbulb, capturing this year's theme of "inspiration".

The fireworks also involved a world first: the displays were captured by drones mounted with cameras and broadcast live on television and a Telstra App from 300 metres above the harbour water.

The bridge explodes in a dramatic fireworks display.

The bridge explodes in a dramatic fireworks display.Credit: Reuters

Throughout the evening, well wishers used the hashtag #SydNYE to tweet messages which were then beamed onto the bridge pylons.

For weeks, feelings and fears remained heightened following the Lindt cafe siege and extra police were on duty around Sydney.

Sydney's New Year's Eve lightbulb moment.

Sydney's New Year's Eve lightbulb moment.Credit: Reuters

Sydney lord mayor Clover Moore caught the mood.

"We've been a city in mourning," she said.

"The people of Sydney responded in a way that reflected who we are – we are a multicultural inclusive, welcoming community."

But the siege was never far away.

Floral mementoes with the words "Sydney remembers" were regularly beamed onto Sydney Harbour Bridge pylons in memory of Katrina Dawson and Tori Johnson who died early on December 16 after police stormed the Lindt cafe in Sydney's CBD.

Councillor Moore announced donations of $10,000 to Beyond Blue to commemorate Tori Johnson and also to the Katrina Dawson Foundation focusing attention on the education of women.

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"The small tribute tonight is to say Sydney remembers ... it is in memory of the two young and talented people we lost because of that siege and we also remember the trauma that the hostages experienced and the bravery of the police," she said.

★ The International Year of Light was endorsed by the United Nations to raise awareness of how optical technologies promote sustainable development and provide solutions to worldwide challenges in energy, education, agriculture, communications and health.

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