Sydney welcomed in 2023 with a spectacular display of fireworks launched from the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, rooftops and pontoons on the harbour.
People had been picking out prime positions along the waterside from Saturday morning, only partly deterred by scattered showers. Aerial photographs at 6pm showed the harbour packed as crowds waited for the evening’s events.
For some, including Sunita Popal and her partner Alan Espinoza from Los Angeles, seeing Sydney’s world-famous display has been a decade-long ambition.
“I’ve been dreaming about it for 10 years,” Popal said ahead of the fireworks. “We’re expecting the best fireworks show we have ever seen.”
The first set of fireworks at 9pm was produced by Indigenous artists Carmen Glynn-Braun and Dennis Golding, who graduated from the University of NSW’s school of art and design three years ago.
A smoking ceremony, pylon projections, lighting effects, and Welcome to Country preceded the first fireworks display.
Spectators cheered as the first animations were projected onto the pylons of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and fireworks swirled around the harbour, forming part of a show that was six months in the making.
The midnight extravaganza dazzled spectators with a rainbow waterfall cascade and new effects called falling leaf and ghost shells.
Sydney’s New Year pyrotechnics had their origins in 18th century Italy, having been created by the Italian-Australian Foti family, who first started making fireworks in the medieval city of Messina in northern Sicily in 1793.
“Things started booming in the mid-90s and ever since we’ve been growing and growing,” Sam Foti said.
New Year’s resolutions for partygoers around the Opera House included drinking less and falling in love.
Tom Waller from Miami, who was going to a 1970s-themed party at the Opera House with friends, said his New Year’s resolution was to limit his alcohol consumption.
As he walked towards the entrance to the party, he said: “I’ll see how I go.”
Meanwhile, Amelie Faes from New Caledonia said she hoped to find love.
“I want to find love … I have waited for 10 years,” she said.
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