Sydney ushers in 2023 with a bang – By Millie Muroi and Christopher Harris
Source : smh
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, and aerial photographs at 6pm showed harbour vantage points were packed as crowds waited for the evening’s events.
Fireworks light up the sky over Sydney Harbour, welcoming in 2023.
Fireworks light up the skies above Sydney Harbour at midnight on New Year’s Eve.
Fireworks above Sydney Harbour at midnight on New Year 2023.
Fireworks herald in 2023 over Sydney Harbour.
Fireworks light up the skies above Sydney Harbour at midnight on New Year’s Eve.
Crowds cheered as the fireworks began, swirling from barges in the harbour as well as the bridge.
Fireworks light up the skies above Sydney Harbour at 9pm on New Year’s Eve.
Ibrahim Aktas, Sez and Gorky Uz wait for the Sydney New Years Eve fireworks at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair.
Friends at Circular Quay ahead of New Years Eve fireworks.
The crowd watches the 9pm fireworks at the Sydney Opera House.
Revellers at Circular Quay.
A group of friends all wearing retro outfits at the Opera House forecourt.
Opera Singer Sheba Williams on the steps of the Sydney Opera House on New Years Eve.
New Year’s Eve revellers begin to arrive at Sydney Opera House.
Revellers begin to set up at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair.
Long queues to get in the gates at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair.
Duff Reserve, in Point Piper, which holds a maximum capacity of 100 people.
Duff Reserve, in Point Piper, which holds a maximum capacity of 100 people.
A New Years Eve reveller walks through the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House.
Long queues at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair ahead of New Year’s Eve.
Crowds settle in for a long wait on Saturday afternoon.
Crowds settle in for a long wait at the Opera House forecourt.
Revellers relaxing at the Sydney Opera House.
Circular Quay ahead of New Year’s Eve celebrations.
The crowds wait in their prime positions for the 2023 New Years Eve Fireworks at the Opera House forecourt.
Angelic and Santiago at Circular Quay.
For some, including Sunita Popal and her partner Alan Espinoza from Los Angeles, seeing Sydney’s world-famous display had been a long-held 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.
