The year 2023 is greeted by a huge crowd at Sydney harbour.
To welcome in the new year, many people flocked back to the harbour and were once again dazzled by Sydney's renowned fireworks displays.
The foreshore crowd and those watching on TV and the internet were treated to fireworks, pylon projections, a celebration of First Nations culture, and a building of excitement for the upcoming WorldPride festival.
What a fantastic evening we had. After the difficulties of recent years, Clover Moore, the Lord Mayor of Sydney, said it was wonderful to welcome visitors from overseas and within Australia back to Sydney. "We hope that 2023 will be a safe, peaceful, and fabulous year for all of us," she added.
Sydney has once again cemented its reputation as the New Year's capital of the world, and we hope that the millions of people watching from around the world will soon be planning to visit.
"The fireworks, projections, music, and live performances were an amazing homage to our remarkable city, showcasing the best of what our city has to offer as a beautiful, safe, welcoming, and exciting destination.” Thank you to everyone who helped make this event a huge success, from the planners to the cleaners.
Fireworks were shot off pontoons, Sydney Harbour's landmark buildings, and city rooftops as the clock struck midnight, painting the sky over the harbour in a kaleidoscope of color.
A rainbow cascaded from the Sydney Harbour Bridge as the show concluded, with colorful explosions all around the harbour as a backdrop.
At 11 o'clock, after Courtney Act sang "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" on the ABC stage, the bridge was lit up in the colors of the Progress Pride flag. This was done to get the city ready for the WorldPride festival in February.
At 9 o'clock, on the show Calling Country, First Nations musicians, singers, and dancers shared their work and told stories through art and performance that were influenced by the night sky, the land, and the sea.
During the days leading up to New Year's Day, the city of Sydney organizes a massive cleanup operation to make sure the streets and parks of the central business district are spotless.
During the night, people in trucks, sweepers, and compactors kept the city clean and easy for both residents and visitors to get around in.
We pray that last night's festivities brought you some much-needed solace and a renewed sense of optimism for the year ahead. The Lord Mayor wished for a year of "happiness, health, safety, and peace" for all in 2023.