How Australians spent Christmas Day

Thousands lined the coastlines for a quintessential beach Christmas celebration on Wednesday, while many reflected on how hard many Australians had it this Christmas.

Swimmers cool off at Sydney’s Bronte Beach. Picture: Daily Telegraph/ Monique Harmer

Thousands lined the coastlines for a quintessential Australian Christmas celebration on Wednesday, as the sun beat down on Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.

But in a rainy Darwin, Anthony Albanese joined Territorians in standing still to remember one of the nation’s most horrifying natural disasters 50 years on.

Hordes of visitors and locals covered every inch of the small Bronte beach in Sydney’s east and its grassy knoll, while police on horseback managed crowds.

At Bondi, revellers wore matching red bikinis and Santa Claus beer hats, while at St Kilda Beach in Melbourne revellers danced around a tinselled Christmas tree that had been propped up in the sand.

Alex Oxley and Harry Nickson celebrate on the beach at St Kilda. Picture: NewsWire / Diego Fedele

In western Victoria, more than 600 personnel spent their Christmas battling bushfires with the help of 100 fire trucks and 25 firebombing planes in the Grampians National Park, as the temperatures soared.

Others took it easy on Christmas, looking to the days ahead.

The men’s Test cricket squad watched on at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as the pitch was prepared for the Boxing Day Test, which could be played in punishing 40-degree heat.

Samantha Gibson, Sarah Dakhili and Michelle Bowen enjoy a picnic in Brisbane. Picture: Steve Pohlner

At the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia on Sydney’s Darling Point, sailors ate Christmas lunch and chatted with Santa as they calmed their nerves before embarking on the epic 628 nautical-mile race to Hobart.

Up in Darwin, the Prime Minister led the commemorations for the 50th anniversary of Cyclone Tracy – a vicious category four cyclone that killed 66 people on Christmas Day in 1974.

Archbishop Anthony Fisher leads mass in Sydney. Picture: AAP

About 85 per cent of the homes in Darwin were destroyed, leaving many others rebuilding their lives from the ground up.

“We think of their families for whom every Christmas means revisiting that grief and we remember all the survivors,” the Prime Minister told those who ­attended the opening of a new memorial on Wednesday.

“Today, as we reflect on the destructive force of nature at its very worst, we also remember and honour, the strength and kindness of Australians at their very best. The Australian Defence Force and emergency services personnel who were there to help from the first moments of crisis, right the way through. And every day Australians everywhere who responded with characteristic generosity.”

Mr Albanese would ordinarily be attending an annual Christmas lunch at the Reverend Bill Crews Foundation, where, on Wednesday, an army of volunteers served meals to an estimated 3000 people who filed through the doors.

NSW Premier Chris Minns serves lunch to the needy at The Reverend Bill Crews Foundation in Ashfield, Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

NSW Premier Chris Minns, who helped to hand out the free meals, reflected on what would be a difficult Christmas for many.

“This is a fantastic annual event, hugely important as well, Christmas Day here. And the reason for that is while most people in NSW and Australia get to spend time with family and friends, there are many people out there who may be homeless, may be without family, they might be alone, they might be isolated, and they know there’s a place where they can get a warm meal and a friendly smile,” he said.

Mr Minns, who was delivering plates of food and cans of coke from the kitchen to the open dining room, said charities across NSW had reported major increases in people seeking their services – including for food, Christmas presents and donations.

Santa visits the Sydney Hobart fleet. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

“In some instances, people who regularly donated to the very same charities have had to come and ask for help this year. Now this would be hugely humbling for them. I just want them to know, there’s no judgment at all from any of the wonderful charities in NSW. We know if you live in the second-most expensive city on earth, you’re going to be doing it tough either to make your mortgage, or make your rent – or get through Christmas,” he said.

“I hope 2025, brings better economic news,” he added.

Reverend Bill Crews confirmed that those people who previously gave the charity money were “now accepting meals”.

“When that happens, there’s something very seriously wrong in the way the world is working,” he said.

In his Christmas message, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton reflected on the same challenge.

“With everything costing more, many Australians had to make do with much less,” he said in a recorded message.

“This Christmas, we spare a thought for those less fortunate and those doing it tough. Many of us will know individuals and families who really are struggling and, where we can, we should reach out to those who might not be experiencing the spirit of Christmas.”