By Najma Sambul and Nell Geraets
Fireworks - and love - blossomed over Melbourne as thousands of revellers rang in the New Year in the city after three years of COVID restrictions.
Thousands of people filled the CBD to greet 2023 with the spectacle of fireworks launched from 30 high-rise city buildings. The crowds started counting down and screaming before the explosions of light filled the sky for about 10 minutes, accompanied by plenty of new year’s kisses.
In Federation Square, young German couple Verena Dallmann and Kai Blum shared a kiss during the fireworks as they were surrounded by a throng of celebratory partygoers.
German couple Verena Dallmann and Kai Blum shared a kiss during the fireworks.Credit: Najma Sambul
“We are so excited to be here,” said Dallmann.
“It’s amazing, we are from the countryside in Germany and we normally celebrate in a village and now we are in Melbourne,” she said. The travellers planned to get a few drinks and continue their night dancing as they contemplated future plans in Australia.
As midnight approached, the party crowd was bopping to Beyoncé and Dua Lipa as the music belted out from behind the DJ’s decks at Riverland on the Yarra.
It was the younger crowd letting loose in Birrarung Marr as barges glided across the Yarra with more partygoers enjoying the atmosphere.
“I’m so ready for new year,” said 23-year-old John Day Winton from Queensland.
Elissa Wells, 22, also from Queensland, said she’s enjoying the party atmosphere with her girlfriends. “It’s a vibe,” she said, as she danced up on the dance floor.
DJ Gavin Campbell who has been in the industry for the past 40 years and plays at The Espy every weekend said he was loving the atmosphere.
Family fireworks soared over the Bolte Bridge.Credit: AAP
Families and groups of friends flocked to viewing sites at Federation Square, the Flagstaff Gardens and along the Yarra for family-friendly fireworks at 9.30pm and the main event at midnight.
Early in the evening a young family from Iran were dancing into their first new year celebrations in Australia while surrounding crowds applauded the family-friendly fireworks.
Six-year-old Soroush Motamedi, who will enter grade one in 2023, enjoyed his late night and danced up a storm to the beat of the music. Phones were out as passersby stopped to take photos.
Soroush Motamedi, 6, danced to the music at Federation Square before the fireworks.Credit: Najma Sambul
“We just immigrated to Australia from Iran,” said dad Amir Motamedi, 43.
The family laughed and hugged as the 9.30 pm fireworks stole the show.
Crowds started gathering and readying themselves for a huge night of celebrations in the late afternoon as Melbourne’s weather approached a top of 30.2 degrees at Docklands.
Melbourne’s own floating bar on the Yarra River behind Flinders Street Station, the Arbory Afloat, was packed with young revellers early.
Across the way, Mark Scott, 42, met his friends at nearby Federation Square, but they were not planning to hang around in town. With the humidity also rising, the group was bound for Altona to ring in the new year by the beach.
Friends Angeline Lee, Channery Mom, Mark Scott, Tim Mckeaveney, and Monica Wang are headed to Altona Beach to bring in the new year.Credit: Najma Sambul
“It’s too packed at Federation Square on New Year’s Eve,” said Scott, shielding the blaring sun with his umbrella.
His partner Channery Mom said she was nervous about navigating crowds and public transport, but the first “normal” New Year’s Eve post-COVID was motivation enough to get out and about.
“Today is a good day, after COVID, to be able to spend time with everybody, and it’s beautiful weather,” she said.
The group had little to say about New Year’s resolutions but noted that travelling was a priority.
“I want to dance more overseas, that’s really my only resolution,” said 33-year-old Angeline Lee.
Stocked up with sunscreen, water, and some drinks, the friends were not expecting to recreate the memories of past New Year’s Eve celebrations.
“Back in the day there, I was a lot more crazier in the clubs and bars,” Monica Wang said.
Producer Dean Elliot also known by his stage name “Mønarch”, was part of lineup ringing in the new year at Federation Square. Originally from Sydney, the 30-year-old said while the harbour in Sydney was beautiful the people in Melbourne made New Year’s Eve memorable.
“The comparison between Sydney is that, you get the beauty of the harbour but in Melbourne you get the beauty of the people,” he said.
Originally a Sydneysider, Dean Elliott said the people in Melbourne made New Year’s Eve memorable.Credit: Najma Sambul
Marvel Stadium was transformed into an all-out celebratory extravaganza with room to host between 2000 and 3000 partying revellers.
Over at Footscray Park, crowds enjoyed a Queen tribute show and family fireworks featuring two of the nation’s most famous sisters, Bluey and Bingo.
The City of Melbourne expected up to 450,000 people to pack the CBD to watch its first New Year’s Eve fireworks display since the pandemic.
A 20-tonne arsenal of fireworks was installed around the city – six tonnes more than in 2019.
Nearly 25,000 individual rockets were set to launch off 30 CBD rooftops (eight more than ever before) and from five ground sites.
The $3.94 million party included $280,000 for fireworks, and the remainder for setting up “celebration zones” at Docklands, Flagstaff Gardens, Treasury Gardens, and near the Shrine of Remembrance.
“We are so pleased to be able to bring our biggest fireworks and New Year’s Eve celebrations ever,” Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp said on Friday.
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