New Years Eve 25 Years Ago: 2000 (Centenary of Federation Fireworks)

 

Wednesday is New Year's Eve, and as the norm at this time of the year, I look back at how Sydney welcomed the new year 25 years ago.

The year of focus is 2000.

Fireworks

The launch points for the fireworks are shown below. For 2025, they have stuck to the "traditional" launch points, but with added launch sites - Off Bradfield Park, Kirribilli, Off Garden Island, a second launch site to the west of Goat Island, and a launch site to the west of the Sydney Harbour Bridge to complement the barge located off Kirribilli and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. 

The duration of the display was reduced from 25 minutes to welcome in 2000 to 16 minutes. It would settle at 12 minutes, which is expected to be the approximate length of this year's display.

Sourced from: The Daily Telegraph. 2000. "New Years Eve - Official Guide". The Daily Telegraph, December 27: 48-49.

The Bridge Effect for 2001 was an eight-pointed Commonwealth Star with each point representing either a state or territory, with a Rainbow Serpent placed above it.

Source: Westwood, S. "Serpent a star in bridge's New Year test run". The Daily Telegraph, December 22: 3. 

Transport

Revellers were encouraged to travel by public transport to both New Year's Eve and the Centenary of Federation events. Discounted rail and bus tickets with unlimited rail were available and were valid on the day of travel until 4am the next day, either on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. For $12, a combined rail/bus ticket was available, allowing for unlimited travel on Sydney Buses as well. The tickets were commemorative, as part of the Centenary of Federation celebrations. 

Source: Sofios, S. 2000. "New Year party crush". The Daily Telegraph, December 23: 15.

Source: NSW Department of Transport. 2000. "Plan it right, for party time" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, December 22: 34. 

Unfortunately, for New Year's Eve 2025, the regular daily fare cap for public transport in Sydney will be the standard $19.30, as it is not a public holiday. If travelling during regular peak periods on the trains, e.g. 3pm-7pm, you will also pay peak-hour fares as if it were a typical day. If New Year's Eve fell on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday this year, the cap would be $9.65.

Newspaper Coverage

At the top of the entry is the front page of The Daily Telegraph dated January 1, 2001.

Below is the front page of The Sydney Morning Herald from January 1, 2001.

Two general features from The Daily Telegraph and The Sydney Morning Herald from January 1, 2001.

Source: Chesterton. R. 2001. "Twice the fun for New Year party's double celebration". The Daily Telegraph, January 1: 2.

Source: Stevenson, A. 2001. "Boom time in a city that never sleeps". The Sydney Morning Herald, January 1: 2.

Another highlight of the evening was the Lord Mayor's Party held at the Sydney Opera House hosted by Lord Mayor Frank Sartor.

Source: Chesterton, R. 2001. "Style, panache and fizz at Frank's Sydney soiree". The Daily Telegraph, January 1: 6. 

Parramatta Stadium played host to a concert that was televised on Channel Ten featuring Vanessa Amorosi, Nathan Cavaleri, Human Nature, S2S and Madison Avenue

Below is the fireworks as broadcast on the Nine Network. Video uploaded to Youtube by "SydneyCelebrates".  

Centenary of Federation  - January 1

New Year's Day saw three major events to mark the Centenary of Federation on January 1, 1901. 

State and Federal Leaders, along with Governor General Sir William Deane, gathered at Centennial Park to reenact the inauguration of the Federation of Australia on January 1, 1901. This was held in the Federation Pavilion (rebuilt in 1988).

As many as 500,000 Sydneysiders gathered to watch the Journey of a Nation parade, which ran down Macquarie Street, College Street and Oxford Street and down Anzac Parade to Moore Park.

In the evening, a concert was held at Centennial Park.

Below is a front page from The Sydney Morning Herald from January 2, 2001.

   

Finally, I'd like to wish you all a very safe and Happy New Year, and may 2026 be a year of success, prosperity and good health. 

Christmas Snapshot: 2000

Source: Lamba, B. & Sofios, S. (2000). "'Tis the season to serve up goodwill". The Daily Telegraph, December 26: 14-15. 

Christmas Day is on Thursday, and it is appropriate that this week I post the annual Christmas Snapshot, looking at how Sydney marked Christmas 25 years ago.

The year of focus is 2000.

So did Sydneysiders mark it?

Carols in the Domain - December 16

Carols in the Domain was held on Saturday, December 16, attracting 100,000 people into The Domain. 

Source: Sorenson, T. 2000. "Record crowd flocks to carols". The Sunday Telegraph, December 17: 29.

The lead-up to December 25

The Sunday Telegraph on December 24 2000 (Below) did a two-page spread on the lead-up to Christmas. For those leaving Sydney to visit family for Christmas or spend the summer holidays away from home, some encountered difficulties, whether on the road or in the air. 

Several Ansett Boeing 767s were grounded over the Christmas period, leading to flight cancellations. This was because they had not been subject to compulsory maintenance inspections. The grounded 767s resumed operations on Boxing Day, in time for the post-Christmas Rush.

For the airline itself, it would be its final Christmas, as it entered administration in September 2001 and ceased operations in March 2022.

Late-night shopping in the lead-up to Christmas is a tradition, though it is not as strong in 2025 as it was a quarter of a century ago. Online retailing was in its early stages, but our retailers had yet to embrace it, and the technology had not advanced enough for easy online ordering. 

To buy gifts, you had to buy them in person. It meant braving the crowds, fighting for a spot in full carparks and finding time to shop alongside other day-to-day aspects of life, such as work.  Late-night Christmas shopping meant there was no need to rush after a long day at the office.  

These days, it's possible to order online from a computer, tablet, or phone at any time, from any location. Black Friday sales have taken off in recent years, meaning gifts can be sought at reasonable prices a month out from Christmas. Want a bargain back in 2000? That had to wait until Boxing Day. 

Some still love the thrill of late-night shopping, and even some in Generation Z embrace it. One student at school told me in the lead-up to Christmas this year that they love doing it themselves. 

Source: Murray, K. & Grant, P. 2000. "Late closing for final rush". The Daily Telegraph, December 20: 24. 

Christmas Day - December 25

The Daily Telegraph feature on December 26, 2000, focused on the Churches and the lunches they put on for the poor and disadvantaged, including the Exodus Foundation (Ashfield), Matthew Talbot Hostel (Woolloomooloo), Wayside Chapel (Kings Cross) and the Salvation Army at Redfern. The Matthew Talbot Hostel recorded a forty per cent increase in volunteers, aided by the volunteer spirit triggered by the Sydney Olympics three months earlier. 

An estimated 4000 people were reported to have attended midnight mass at St Mary's Cathedral, and standing room only for its 10:30 am mass on Christmas morning.

Bondi Beach

According to The Daily Telegraph, backpackers and tourists accounted for the 25,000 who chose to spend their day at the beach. A party zone was explicitly created for those who wanted to celebrate the day. 3000 gathered at Coogee. 

A quarter of a century later, it now faces competition from Bronte Beach, which has gained widespread appeal amongst backpackers. However, Bronte, which is smaller, struggles to cope with the 10,000 who attend and has raised concerns, particularly about garbage.

Back at Bondi in 2000, garbage left behind by revellers was also a problem, and Waverley council was very quick to point fingers - British Backpackers

Source: Smith, R. 2000. "Filthy Poms". The Sunday Telegraph, December 31: 7. 

Christmas Lights

Adorning your home with lights at Christmas has become a standard way of celebrating in Sydney's suburbs, and a quarter of a century ago, the competition for the best-lit street in Sydney was taking off. The late 1990s would mark the genesis of such competition, given that last year's snapshot (1999) mentioned Bonnet Bay and its Christmas Lights. Locals would claim that their tradition began in the mid-1970s, as the suburb was new, developed from the late 1960s onward. 

The Daily Telegraph had several features on Christmas Lights in streets in Sydney, but will post one below focusing on Stutz Place, Ingleburn. Campbelltown Council was running a local competition to determine the street with the best Christmas lights. 

Source: Saleh, L. 2000. "Silent night, holy light". The Daily Telegraph, December 11: 9. 

A Final Word

As this Christmas approaches, many Sydneysiders will be marking the season while also carrying grief following the tragic events at Bondi Beach on Sunday, December 15. The loss of life, the injuries suffered, and the trauma experienced by those who witnessed what occurred have left a profound and lasting impact on families, first responders, and the wider community. 

This look back at Christmas 2000 is written with an awareness that places central to Sydney’s summer traditions can hold both joy and sorrow across time. Yet in the days that followed the events at Bondi, the way people have supported one another through care, compassion, restraint, and solidarity reflects values long associated with Christmas itself. 

In that sense, light has not been overcome by darkness, even as many continue to grieve. With that in mind, 

I wish all of you a Merry Christmas, extending my thoughts to those who are mourning, recovering, or carrying the weight of what they saw, and to everyone seeking peace and reassurance in a difficult season.

Stay safe, everyone.

Property Advert of the Week: 73 Milton Street, Ashfield (1970)

Our last Property Advert of the Week entry for 2025 sends us back to 1970, when apartments were on offer at 73 Milton Street, Ashfield, from $13 950, and the complex contained just nine units. 

 

Source: Rightway Real Estate. 1970. "Ashfield - 73 Milton Street" (Advertisement). The Sun, January 23: 60.

According to the RBA Inflation Calculator, this would equate to paying around $198 000 in today's money. The three-bedroom apartments, which started from $16,300, would be equivalent to spending around $231,000 today.

Property Advert of the Week returns on Saturday February 7.

1987: No New Years' Eve Fireworks

Source: Aubin, T. 1987. "Why the New Year won't begin with a bang". The Sydney Morning Herald, December 21: 1. 

In two weeks, I will do the annual lookback at how New Year's Eve in Sydney was marked 25 Years ago (New Year's Eve, 2000 is this year's focus), but let's look back at a year that there wasn't a fireworks spectacular on New Year's Eve.

That year was 1987.

But why?

The focus, according to the Festival of Sydney Organisers, was on 26 January 1988 - Australia's Bicentenary. This was confirmed on December 21, ten days before New Year's Eve. Stephen Hall (General Manager, Bicentennial Committee and Director of Special Bicentennial Events) told The Sydney Morning Herald (December 22, 1987) that the decision not to have a fireworks show was made the previous year

By then, it was too late for Harbour Cruise operators, city hotels and restaurants, some of whom expected a show and had advertised New Year's packages around it.

Was this the right decision?

No

New Year's Eve festivities in the 1980s were incorporated into the Sydney Festival and were regarded as the festival's launch. It lacks the scale of celebrations in recent years, but there was an expectation that a public event would be organised for Sydneysiders to welcome the new year. The first official New Year's Eve fireworks show on Sydney Harbour was held at midnight on New Year's Eve 1976 to welcome in 1977.

To use the Bicentennial celebrations on January 26 as an excuse was not justified. Any fireworks show was not going to overshadow what would happen just weeks later. The program on January 26 1988, was a day-long affair, with the fireworks spectacular just one of a number of major events on that program, which included the arrival of the First Fleet re-enactment ships and the Tall Ships parade. A fireworks show at midnight to welcome in 1988, would have been a good means to launch the Bicentennial Year in Sydney, even if it was only a scaled back version of what was planned for January 26.

Do we use New Year's Eve as an excuse not to have a fireworks show on Australia Day because both are just weeks apart - we don't. There is still a fireworks show for Sydneysiders on January 26. In recent years, it has shifted to Circular Quay just off the Sydney Opera House and is integrated with a concert on the Sydney Opera House forecourt and the Sydney Harbour Bridge is lit up. It is even relegated the Darling Harbour Fireworks Show, which has been the traditional Australia Day fireworks show for Sydneysiders, to the side

It also meant that Melbourne could claim bragging rights to the biggest New Year's Eve party in Australia that year as they organised a midnight fireworks show to launch the Bicentennial Year, which also coincided with celebrating the arrival of the Tall Ships at Port Melbourne. The event was televised on Channel Seven and Prime Minister Bob Hawke led the countdown to midnight

How did Sydneysiders welcome in 1988?

Extra public transport services were provided to give Sydneysiders a chance to travel to the city to welcome in the New Year. An estimated 150,000 people gathered at The Rocks, while 20,000 were reported to have gathered at Kings Cross. No fireworks meant it was quieter than past years according to The Rocks police. 

Below is a two page spread from The Daily Mirror (January 1, 1988)

Police ensured that they had a tough presence. Even before the sun set the first arrest had already been made.

Source: Brown, M. "Handcuffs at 7.15 started a quiet New Year's Eve". The Sydney Morning Herald, January 1: 2.

And believe it or not, organisers decided not to do one to welcome 1989. The reason given by the organisers of the Sydney Festival of fears of violence or "rowdy behaviour"

Another lost opportunity as well - It could have closed off the Bicentennial Year with a "bang".

New Years Eve 1989 marked the return of New Years Eve fireworks to Sydney with the main show (promoted as Skyshow) at a friendlier time of 9pm. This would encourage families to attend and to enable people to celebrate either at home or elsewhere at midnight.  

Entry of Interest

New Years Eve 25 Years Ago:1989

 

Property Advert of the Week: AVJennings Renaissance Collection (1996)

Below is a 1996 newspaper advertisement promoting the AVJennings Renaissance Collection, a set of model homes offered by AVJennings.

Source: AVJennings. 1996. "AVJennings Renaissance Collection" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, December 28: 16. 

The homes could be inspected in Sydney, Wollongong, Central Coast and Hunter Valley. Within greater Sydney, they were located at Kellyville, Hoxton Park, Cecil Hills & Mt Annan. 

1989: Sydney Fish Markets Redevelopment

Source: Connolly, A. 1989. "It's swish fish". The Daily Mirror, November 24: 11.

Next month, the Sydney Fish Markets will move to a new purpose-built complex built right next to its current site on Bridge Road in Pyrmont. 

The new complex will replace the complex that has traded for 36 years. It opened on November 27 1989 and cost $27 million to build. 

In addition to new trading facilities for the markets and seafood retailers, there were food retailers, restaurants and a seafood school. You could learn how to cook seafood onsite with the establishment of a seafood school.

A boardwalk ran along the waterfront, and one could moor their boat in front of the building.

Prior to the opening, The Daily Mirror secured a preview of the redeveloped markets (see above).

They also published a special supplement on November 29 1989. 

Property Advert of the Week: Chipping Norton Land Sale (1982)

Below is a newspaper advertisement from 1982, promoting the sale of 17 homesites on Epsom Road at Chipping Norton. The blocks were on sale from $37, 950. This is equivalent to paying around $164,000 in today's money (RBA Inflation Calculator)

Source: Crighton Properties Pty. Pltd's. 1982. "Land Sale Chipping Norton" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, September 17: 26. 

1992: Vacant Sydney CBD Office Space

Source: McDougall, B. 1992. "Rooms at the top". The Daily Telegraph Mirror, March 9: 10 & 11.

One of the biggest impacts of the 1990-1991 economic recession in Sydney was the increase in vacant space in city office buildings. 

In 1992, the recession had finished but was still making its presence felt. Unemployment in Australia would peak at 11.2 % of the labour force by the end of that year.

Also, building projects that were conceived during the boom years of the Australian economy during the 1980s were still under construction as developers hoped that strong economic times would continue and that businesses would lease space in office buildings in central Sydney and the suburbs. In early 1992, thre were 14 office buildings that were identified by The Daily Telegraph Mirror as under construction including Chifley Tower, Governor Phillip Tower and Governor Macquarie Tower. 

At the time, office vacancy rates in central Sydney ranged around 15%, but Chatswood was recording a vacancy rate of 30%. Around half a million square meters of office space was dormant.

There were some projects that did not go ahead e.g. 2 Park Street, Angel Place, Village Cinema Centre redevelopment. World Square was a major victim. A dispute between the developer, construction workers and unions saw the project grind to a halt in 1990 as it had raised concerns over the economic vialability of the project. Even in the early 1990s there was optimism that construction would recommence but built in stages over an extended period of time

Vacancy rates in central Sydney is currently at 13.7%, reflecting the reduced demand for office space associated with the appeal of work from home arrangements for workers which has seen a reduction in demand for office space. This is up from 5% in the period prior to COVID.