New Years Eve 25 Years Ago: 1996

Above: A poster promoting viewing points for the New Year's Eve fireworks as published in The Sunday Telegraph on December 29 1996.

As custom, our final entry for the year will look back at how Sydney marked New Years Eve 25 years ago.

Our year of focus is 1996.

If you have viewed my entries from previous years, you would have noticed the evolution of how Sydney welcomes the new year in the way that it does today. 

It started in 1989 with a thirty minute fireworks show at 9pm which was at the time a corporate event and launch event for the Festival of Sydney. In the years that followed, the show grew bigger and bigger. In 1993, the first midnight show was held featuring fireworks at Sydney Tower and Darling Harbour. The following year (1994) the SkyShow was broadcast for the first time, though it was it screened on delay.

The 1996 fireworks was the largest fireworks show held in Sydney since the Bicentenary in 1988 and would be a teaser to December 31 1999 and the Sydney Olympics in 2000 when the world would be treated to a special fireworks display as part of the festivities. 

Celebrations were "new-look" with Ric Birch producing the event at an estimated cost of $1.5 million. With the Olympic Games in 2000, he claimed that he would need ten times the amount for the 2000 Olympic Games fireworks display given the area that would need to be covered to provide the best experience for crowds gathered on Sydney Harbour. For Birch and Sydney City Council, this was a test event which they could learn from as they prepared for 2000.

Source: Totaro, P. 1996. "Sartor's $1.5m cracker for 1997". The Sydney Morning Herald, November 28: 3. 

Source: Papadopoulos, N. 1996. "Fireworks a dress rehearsal for 2000". The Sydney Morning Herald, December 31: 2.

Channel Seven had the rights to the fireworks for the 1994 and 1995 SkyShows. Channel Nine began a decade long association as the official TV broadcaster in 1996 and for the first time, the 9pm fireworks was broadcast live right across Australia. 

There was also a short broadcast of the midnight fireworks at Sydney Tower from 11:57pm to 12:02am. Below is the broadcast of the midnight display. Channel Nine's coverage was anchored by Catriona Rowntree and Richard Wilkins. The midnight show focused on fireworks launched from 10 points from in a southward direction from North Sydney to Sydney Tower in the 10 seconds leading to midnight where Sydney Tower exploding in fireworks to resemble an Olympic Torch on the stroke of midnight. 

Some time back, it was possible to view the full 9pm show but I believe copyright restrictions led to its removal. However there is an edited version of the live coverage if the short highlights package was not enough.

2UE provided the live simulcast of the soundtrack featured in the show.

As in previous years, the show lasted thirty minutes. However for 1996, there was a prelude to the main event. At 8:50pm, shells were launched at North and South Head.  Two Riverboat ferries with fireworks sailed from opposite ends of Sydney Harbour. One started at the Gladesville Bridge and the other at the heads before meeting at the Sydney Opera House. The fireworks launching points increased to 25, which included buildings in central Sydney and North Sydney. The main fireworks barges were located near the Sydney Opera House. The now present boundaries for the New Years Eve fireworks were now set as people were encouraged to watch the show from vantage points anywhere along Sydney Harbour or the Parramatta River that had a view of the harbour bridge. People could stay local if they desired.

Source: Rogers, J. 1996. "A blazing good time". The Daily Telegraph, December 31:6. 

The theme for 1996 was Masquerade. Those attending New Years Eve celebrations were encouraged to wear a mask in the shape of the Sydney Opera House. The masks were distributed with The Sunday Telegraph on December 29 1996.

The mask was designed by Peter England

Source: Anon. 1996. "Man behind the mask". The Daily Telegraph, December 24: 15.

Syd Howard was appointed as fireworks producer for yet another year which involved the release of 16 000 individual fireworks shells.

Source: Anon. 1996. "Sparks will fly for '97". The Daily Telegraph, December 17: 18.

Transport

Source: Sydney Buses, Sydney Ferries & CityRail. 1996. "New Year's Eve Bus, Train & Ferry Services" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, December 27: 28 (Metro Liftout).

Comparing transport arrangements for this year with 1996 is ineffective due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has meant that transport arrangements must reflect public health guidelines and COVID-19 safe practices, especially capacity limits on public transport. There was no pandemic in 1996.

Capacity is determined by the placement of green dots. At the time of writing, all seats on public transport could be utilised but limited scope for standing especially on trains. With limitations on standing, all modes cannot operate at the maximum capacity.

For 1996, a "small army" of drivers and staff were given the challenging job of transporting the hordes.

Trains operated throughout the entire evening to ensure no-one was left stranded.

Source: Phillips, M. 1996. "New year a moving time for the buses". The Daily Telegraph, December 27: 23.

Outside the city

For those who didn't want to travel into the city, Australia's Wonderland provided a whole nights entertainment for just $11.95 after 5pm with entertainment from The Wiggles, John Paul Young and a midnight fireworks show.

Source: Australia's Wonderland. 1996. "Happy New Year From Wonderland" (Advertisement). The Sunday Telegraph, December 29: 12. 

Bondi Beach was also another alternative for revellers, though there had been concerns of possible violence.

Fireworks Wrap up

The Daily Telegraph and The Sydney Morning Herald presented glowing reviews of the fireworks which was attended by at least 600 000 people, with 200 000 of those reported at the Sydney Opera House Forecourt. Some estimates by police placed the crowds at one million, the most attended fireworks since the Bicentennary in 1988. I remember there was also international coverage of Sydney's celebrations on news bulletins and programs from around the world. The world had taken interest in Sydney's celebrations. 

 

A Final Word...

I would like to wish you all a safe and wonderful new year. During January, look forward to weekly installments of Remember this?.