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Australians have eagerly begun farewelling a year many would rather forget with New Year’s Eve celebrations kicking off across the country under circumstances that have never seen before – and will hopefully never be seen again.
A nation divided by coronavirus and arbitrary border closures is even more split tonight as it welcomes 2021.
Australians who would normally flock to harbours, foreshores, riverbanks and beaches to savour million-dollar fireworks displays will instead be watching on TV from their living rooms.
If they aren’t stuck in quarantine, forced into self isolation or stranded in lockdown then they may as well be on the grimmest of New Year’s Eves.
Kissing is banned. Singing discouraged. And as for dancing? Only while social distancing.
If they are lucky enough to be in a part of the country that has escaped the pandemic relatively unscathed, they are most likely still apart from family and friends.
Australians have slowly started arriving in Sydney’s CBD for New Year’s Eve celebrations despite a surge in coronavirus cases and harsh restrictions – but the lack of revellers is unprecedented
Only residents and those with existing bookings at restaurants and pubs are being let into the no-go zone around Sydney’s harbour foreshore – as opposed to the huge crowds of previous years
One well-dressed couple are seen heading out for the night in the Sydney CBD. Celebrations right around Australia have been halted due to the virus
Police are seen patrolling an eerily quiet Circular Quay on New Year’s Eve as Sydneysiders are encouraged to watch the midnight fireworks display from home
Sydneysiders hit the town to celebrate the end of a horror year that began with deadly bushfires and a global pandemic that’s still wreaking havoc across the country
A group of mates clad in sombreros head into Sydney’s city to farewell 2020 – but they won’t have much company
Perth and Darwin and Hobart will stick to their traditional New Year’s Eve program with fireworks to explode from 9:30pm.
Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide have cancelled their displays to avoid large gathering and community transmission of the virus.
Sydney’s world-renowned fireworks spectacle, which last year cost $6.5 million and was under threat from bushfires, has been scaled back to just seven minutes.
A year that began with fires is ending with rain in the Harbour City as wet weather ads to the disappointment of locals.
The foreshore and CBD, normally swarming with a million revellers who would have waited hours to secure a prime position, has been turned into a fortress.
Patrons are seen lining up at a venue in Circular Quay on Thursday night. Only those with bookings and a valid permit are allowed into large parts of the CBD
This year’s New Year’s Eve celebrations will be like no other with police patrolling the CBD to enforce the harsh restrictions
Some revellers get a headstart on the New Year celebrations and enjoy a glass of champagne before the sun goes down
Police officers will be out in full force on Thursday night to ensure those celebrating in the CBD have valid permits
Diners are seen enjoying a meal at the sun begins to set in Sydney while Australians right across the country gear up for a New Year’s Eve like no other
Only residents and those with existing bookings at restaurants and pubs are being let into the no-go zone with a relevant permit but venues have been hit with mass cancellations.
Vantage points across the harbour have been blocked off from the public with fences and signage turning prospective visitors away for the first time.
‘Due to Covid-19, we’re celebrating New Year’s Eve a little differently this year,’ a sign reads. ‘To ensure public safety, this park is closed to the public. ‘Police will be patrolling the area to ensure no unauthorised entry.’
Premier Gladys Berejiklian ordered locals to watch the fireworks at home on their televisions to avoid social mingling amid a new coronavirus outbreak.
Ms Berejiklian urged partygoers to be sensible, avoid large gatherings and locking lips with strangers.
‘When the clock ticks over to midnight from December 31 January 1, I know that’s normally an emotional time where we like to kiss and hug everybody around us. Can I ask for absolute restraint,’ Ms Berejiklian said.
But household parties have been limited to just five visitors – including children – in Greater Sydney including Wollongong, Central Coast and the Blue Mountains while outdoor gatherings have been cut from 50 people down to 30.
‘We don’t want New Year’s Eve to be the cause of a super-spreader,’ Ms Berejiklian said.
The Sydney Harbour fireworks will light up a sky normally exploding with light from Manly in the north to Coogee in the east and across the western suburbs.
Liverpool in the west will be the only other council area to set off fireworks after the Northern Beaches, Parramatta, Campbelltown and Penrith cancelled their displays.
The Sydney Harbour fireworks has been downscaled with the 9pm installment cancelled and the main display cut to just seven minutes.
Brisbane’s South Bank, normally packed with up to 100,000 people for New Year’s Eve, will remain open but the fireworks on the river are cancelled.
Queenslanders instead will be throwing bigger house parties with up to 50 people allowed into a home and 100 in public spaces.
Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young, however, said revellers should avoid the traditional midnight pash.
‘I would suggest you limit that to your known close friends and family and don’t randomly kiss and cuddle strangers that might be there in your circle,’ she said
Only a handful of boats were seen spread across Sydney’s Harbour on Thursday night to celebrate New Year’s Eve
Household parties have been limited to just five people in Greater Sydney – including Wollongong, Central Coast and the Blue Mountains – while outdoor gatherings have been cut from 50 people down to 30
Masks have become this year’s accessory as the world was plunged into lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic (pictured couple in Sydney celebrating NYE)
Two women are seen showing their passes to a security official to celebrate the end of the year in Sydney’s CBD
A musician in Melbourne is seen serenading diners outside a popular restaurant on New Year’s Eve. The city was forced to canel its fireworks displays
Melburnians are saying farewell to a horror year that saw them locked down for more than 100 days
Families and friends get together in Melbourne on New Year’s Eve. Residents are unable to enter the city’s CBD unless they have a restaurant booking
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