Sydney New Year’s Eve strikes sombre tone as fireworks follow minute’s silence for Bondi | Australia news

Australia paused to show solidarity with the Jewish community as New Year’s Eve celebrations continued across the country.

Weeks after the Bondi Beach terrorist attack, hundreds of thousands of people observed a minute’s silence around Sydney Harbor, shedding a collective, defiant spotlight on the latest atrocity.

At 11pm AEDT on Wednesday night, crowds in Sydney held telephone torch lights aloft, while a menorah and a dove were projected onto the pylons of the Harbor Bridge, displaying the words “peace” and “unity”.

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The quiet reflection contrasted with the dazzling fireworks that lit up the night sky over the world-famous harbor to ring in 2026 an hour later.

A cloud of fear has hung over the city since the terrorist attack, but crowds responded to leaders’ calls to come out in defiance of terrorism.

The celebrations, attended by thousands of armed police, took place with intense security measures.

Irishman David Mooney, one of the revelers who secured an early berth on Sydney Harbor, said potential safety risks were only “a little bit” on his mind.

“When everyone is in such good spirits, you almost feel a little bit safe in numbers,” the 29-year-old said.

“Everyone is fine, everyone is comfortable, personally I couldn’t feel safer.”

An earlier batch of fireworks, set off at 9pm AEDT, was greeted with enthusiastic applause as the crowd defied expectations of a somber mood.

The exhibition, titled Calling Country, celebrated Australia’s Indigenous history with paintings displayed on the pylons of the Sydney Harbor Bridge.

In the relaxed atmosphere around the port, hundreds of thousands of people gathered, shared drinks and played board games while waiting for the fireworks.

Lieke Wijnhoven, a 24-year-old Dutch woman, said the extra security measures gave her peace of mind.

“Certainly [the Bondi terror attack] “It’s in your mind a little bit, but it can happen anywhere,” he said.

“For all the security reasons, the police, even the police helicopters, did their best and we’re just trying to have fun here.”

Caroline Meierhans, 24, from Switzerland, said queuing for hours to get into Sydney’s Macquarie Point did not dampen her spirits for the exciting night ahead.

“We sang for hours, we stood there, connecting with other people, looking at our watches wondering how long this was going to last,” he said.

It’s been more than two weeks since 15 people were killed and 41 injured in the attack on Bondi on December 14, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urging people to show kindness.

“What Bondi showed us was the best of the Australian spirit in all its courage and compassion,” he said.

Police were also active in Melbourne and around 500,000 people were expected to descend on the city for a fireworks and laser show at midnight.

German tourist Alexandra Bender said she wasn’t worried about that as she grabbed an early viewing spot at Flagstaff Gardens with her family.

“Such things can happen anywhere. We also experienced it in Germany,” he said.

At other Melbourne live sites at Treasure Gardens, Kings Domain and Docklands, families were enjoying live entertainment before fireworks at 9.30pm and midnight.

In Perth, fireworks lit up the skies over the Swan River at 8.30pm before the usual midnight show.

Partygoers lined the banks of Adelaide’s Torrens River for fireworks at Elder Park.

In Brisbane, fireworks exploded across the Brisbane River at 19.45 on a rainy day, followed by a midnight show.

Fireworks were set off over Hobart’s Derwent River at 9.30pm and midnight for Tasmanians.

There were also fireworks shows on Darwin beach, with shows at 9pm and midnight.