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New year welcomed with spectacular fireworks

One and a half million revellers in Sydney alone
"It’s basically the best party ever, on steroids."

SPECTACULAR fireworks displays have erupted around the country as millions of Aussies farewell an often heartbreaking 2011 and welcome 2012 with fresh hope.

Sydney and many other cities got the party started with family-friendly displays just hours before the main event.

One-and-a-half million revellers watched in Sydney, including Jenny and Simon Oakshott, celebrating their first wedding anniversary at Darling Harbour.

"It’s a great way to celebrate," a beaming Mrs Oakshott said. "We kind of pretend the fireworks are just for us."

No booze was allowed into Darling Harbour so the couple toasted the night with a packet of jelly snakes and a glass of lemonade.

Another person toasting the end of the year was homeless man David Saluzinski.

He got a front row view of the fireworks, sitting on Pyrmont Bridge.

"I got made homeless earlier this year, so I’m absolutely hoping next year is better for me. It can’t get much worse," he said.

"The thing is everyone has been very generous to me. Even tonight I’ve had people coming up to me giving me $5 notes and wishing me happy new year."

There were also many visitors from overseas.

Ralph Xiu was visiting Sydney for the first time from New York.

"Our city does brash and bold, but this is something else," he said.

"The whole place is just buzzing. It’s basically the best party ever, on steroids."

Never-before-seen cloud-shaped fireworks were part of the midnight celebrations, along with butterflies and strobing waterfalls.

Creative designer Marc Newson said he hoped the theme: Time to Dream, would inspire people to be optimistic for the new year.

In Brisbane, crowds of around 80,000 ignored the gloomy weather to watch an 8.30 fireworks display along the riverside before the midnight extravaganza.

Dad Russell Brockhurst arrived at South Bank at 4.30pm (AEST) with nine-year-old daughter Hannah in time to secure a prime position on the banks of the Brisbane River.

Mr Brockhurst admitted he was looking forward to the fireworks show more than his daughter, who came armed with earplugs.

"We came once when she was very young and she got scared of the sound," he said.

"I used to go to the fireworks all the time when I was a child so that was something I’ve always wanted to share with Hannah."

Fireworks also lit up the sky on the Gold Coast and Surfers Paradise foreshore.

Humid weather in Melbourne brought out a crowd of 600,000, who were thrilled by a 10-minute golden fireworks display at 9.45pm (AEDT) and then gold flares fired across the city every hour until the clock struck midnight.

Chief Commissioner Ken Lay praised the atmosphere and crowd behaviour as he toured the CBD.

"The city feels good. There’s lots of families around, very little evidence of alcohol. People seem to be here to have good fun with their families and friends," he said.

Melbourne rang in 2012 with a $2.6 million celebration, with almost 10 tonnes of fireworks exploding from 17 city locations including the Arts Centre spire.

In Canberra, crowds in Civic Square and throughout the national capital also enjoyed a 15-minute early fireworks spectacular ahead of the midnight display.

Revellers in Tasmania celebrated at the Falls Festival and along Hobart’s waterfront.