How Sydney celebrated New Year’s Eve 2020
Sydney showed its star power last night, lighting up the iconic Harbour Bridge in a dazzling display of resolve and hope for a far better 2021. Here’s how you celebrated.
NSW
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Sydney CBD and foreshore were eerily quiet on New Year’s Eve — what should have been the busiest night of the year.
Midnight fireworks over the iconic Harbour Bridge were live-streamed to a worldwide audience as Sydney — and much of the rest of the world — rang in 2021 from home, thanks to COVID restrictions.
About five thousand people replaced the usual one million, with waterfront residents, boat owners and those lucky enough to get a restaurant booking catching the spectacular seven-minute pyrotechnics display up close.
Police praised the behaviour of revellers.
Across NSW, 219 arrests were made, and 290 charges laid for various offences. Over 1400 licenced premises were patrolled.
Assistant Commissioner Mick Willing, said most Sydneysiders were well-behaved and heeded advice to stay home.
“We saw sparse crowds in the city, with only 5000 New Year’s Eve passes scanned to enter the Green Zone,” Assistant Commissioner Willing said.
“That was mirrored on the harbour, with only 20% vessel patronage compared to what we have seen in previous years”.
“It was still disappointing to see some people being reckless and disregarding the rules, with police in the suburbs kept busy dispersing congregations, giving move-on directions and seizing illicit fireworks on multiple occasions.”
Party-goers faced cloudy skies and drizzle at the start of the night which cleared about 6.30pm.
There was a heavy police presence, but officers had little to do, with some buying ice creams and taking selfies around Circular Quay.
At what usually would be a shoulder-to-shoulder event, the Opera Bar’s famous New Year’s Eve celebration was limited to just 300 people.
Self confessed “party girls” Sandra Reeves and Belinda Bushby, who won tickets to the Opera Bar dinner which boasted a prime view of the fireworks, did not let COVID dampen their spirits.
“We are so lucky. This is a one-in-a-million year to be in the city and not be shoulder to shoulder with people,” Ms Bushby said.
“We can dress up, we can look sexy. We’re party girls. We’re going to enjoy ourselves. No one will be in our way. We can take in that view of the amazing Harbour Bridge.
“We know a lot of people are suffering and we feel really bad for them. But, we’ve been given this opportunity and we’re embracing it.”
Ms Bushby agreed.
“This year is the year to be in the city because you can actually take it all in without the rush,” she said.
Jenny Cardenas, Lourdes Quiroz and Leida Carrilo were willing to fork out $450 to attend the event so they could witness the famous display before going home to Columbia next year.
“It might be our last year here and we’d heard so much about it,” Ms Cardenas said.
The trio were disappointed they were not allowed to have a boogie, which they said was important in their culture.
But they said the dinner would be special and a night to remember.
Dylan Boslik and Kylie Vanikiotis celebrated their engagement at the event, with Mr Boslik admitting the foreshore was a “totally different vibe this year”.
Newly-married couple Tony Solamon and Mariam Solamon said they were not concerned about catching the virus tonight, nor did they believe in it.
“We don’t believe in it, to tell you the truth. It’s basically all a scam,” Ms Solamon said.
Opera Bar venue manager Steve Davis said the club was usually known for its dance party to ring in the new year.
“Going by the four square metre per person rule, we could have many more people in our venue. But it’s the rules. We’re going to try and keep the atmosphere as good as it can be for a great sit-down event,” Mr Davis said.
He admitted the COVID business restrictions were “a challenge”, but a necessary one.
“It’s been a challenge. No one wants to be doing the wrong thing. We don’t want people to dance or potentially spread a disease around so that’s not going to be happening,” Mr Davis said.
Police and COVID enforcement officers patrolled the foreshore on foot, horseback, on the water and in the air, and dozens of riot squad members were on hand, but police did not report any distrubances or people flouting COVID restrictions.
Across the water, dozens of roads around Kirribilli and surrounds were blocked off and police patrolled to ensure crowds did not gather at viewing points.
Most people in the area were travelling to house parties nearby.
Some small groups tried to gather on parts of the street where the Harbour Bridge could be seen, but they were moved on.
THEN AND NOW: SYDNEY HARBOUR DESERTED FOR NEW YEAR’S EVE 2020
Sydney Harbour was a virtual ghost town on Thursday night, as coronavirus restrictions and wet weather shut down key vantage points and forced people to celebrate at home under strict capacity limits.
One of the city’s premier firework viewing points at Circular Quay was last year bustling with people. This year it was deserted, with entry restricted to residents who lived in the “green zone”, their guests, and those with bookings at restaurants nearby.
The harbourside usually packed with tourists and residents was empty, dotted with police, security and transport workers, and a few local residents and commuters making their way through the rain.
Popular viewing points in North Sydney covered by the green zone were closed off to the general public — a far cry from last year, when hundreds of people waited under the sun for hours to watch the fireworks.
In surrounding suburbs covered by the “yellow zone” — including North Sydney, Potts Point and Pyrmont — police had warned that large crowds of people would be moved on.
Across the rest of Greater Sydney — including Wollongong, the Central Coast and the Blue Mountains — the coronavirus outbreak restricted household gatherings to just five visitors, including children, and outdoor gatherings to 30.
Coolongolook resident Helen Yildiz, 49, and her friend Lauren travelled from the NSW mid-north coast to enjoy a photo in front of the Harbour Bridge before heading to Luna Park to celebrate the end of year in a COVID-safe way.
“My friend has never seen the fireworks and I promised I would show her. We bought tickets to Luna Park and want to have a drink and celebrate in a safe way,” Ms Yildiz said.
“This is not normal for Circular Quay, normally you can’t even enter and there’s people drinking everywhere.”
The restrictions dealt a massive blow to local business, with one liquor store owner at Circular Quay saying business was down 70 per cent on last year.
“I would encourage everyone to head out and support their local businesses as they’re really struggling today,” he said.
But there was a silver lining to the restrictions for some, with one resident from a nearby apartment block saying she “enjoyed” the fact there were less people around.
“It means I can actually pop downstairs and grab stuff from the shops without the crowd.”
The 9pm fireworks were cancelled and Sydney’s famous midnight fireworks show was shortened to just seven minutes.
Drummoyne resident Dean Dezius, 53, and his wife, Meredyth, 43, swapped the park for the couch, choosing to watch the fireworks at home with their nine-year-old son Maxwell and five friends.
“We would have watched the fireworks in the neighbourhood somewhere, but instead we‘ve got five friends coming over. We’ll crack some champagne and have some drinks before watching the fireworks on the television.
“COVID has changed the way we live but it’s still a symbolic night in that it represents the transition into the new year and a sense of change and hope.”
Their 14-year-old daughter Claudia spent the last day of 2020 at a sleepover at a friend’s house.
While the cancellation of the 9pm fireworks was a bit of a disappointment for Maxwell, Mr Dezius said he was still looking forward to the excitement of the evening.
“It’ll be just another night for him, so if he gets to stay up a bit later and drink some soft drink, then that’s a good night for him.”
And while 2020 had been one many could not wait to put behind them, Mr Dezius said there were some positives.
“It’s given us perspective about the importance of family and we’ve been able to spend a lot more time together this year.”
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