New South Wales Lights Up For ‘National Day Of Reflection’

New South Wales has lit up for the Day Of National Reflection.

Bondi Pavilion

In the background of a massive temporary floral tribute, Bondi Pavilion was illuminated with surprise projections of 2 blue Chanukiahs as beams of light shone to the sky above it from the courtyard within the Pavilion.

On the ‘Day Of National Reflection’, Sunday 21 December 2025, Bondi Pavilion with projections of 2 blue fully lit Chanukiahs on it behind the temporary floral tribute to the victims of the massacre & Jewish genocide terrorism that occurred 100 metres away just over a week prior.
Photograph: Claire via Australian Broadcasting Corporation
On the ‘Day Of National Reflection’, Sunday 21 December 2025, as a projection of a blue fully lit Chanukiah beams onto the building behind them, Bondi Beach’s Jewish community came together in front of Bondi Pavilion to commemorate the victims of the massacre & Jewish genocide terrorism that occurred 100 metres away just over a week prior.
Photograph: Claire via Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Sydney Opera House

The biggest surprise though, while not the most significant illumination this time around, was the Sydney Opera House western sails, which was illuminated with an animated waving brightly burning candle by the New South Wales Government.

In 2023, the New South Wales (NSW) Premier, Chris Minns, admitted to an NSW Legislative Council Budget Estimates hearing that he made an “error” in not providing the Sydney Opera House Southern Forecourt as a place for the Jewish community to commemorate & mourn the loss after the October 7 attacks. After which, he said the Forecourt would be reserved for the Jewish community if a similar tragedy occurred again:

…we should’ve made the Opera House Forecourt & the immediate precinct an opportunity for the Jewish community to come together. I’m admitting that & the only thing I can say is we…want to learn from it & make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Chris Minns, NSW Premier (quote from 2023)

A key difference in context to 2023 is that this projection wasn’t promoted in advance, thus discouraging possible protests as had occurred in 2023. Earlier this week, the Sydney Opera House was illuminated for Chanukah, a projection which also wasn’t promoted in advance, but a concert which was scheduled to be held in the Southern Forecourt that night & which was cancelled out of respect, would have prevented the Forecourt being reserved for the Jewish community that night anyway, as being set up for a concert, it was very likely logistically not in a position to quickly become an appropriate place of mourning for the Jewish community on that occasion.

There was no such concert yesterday evening & it is understood the Southern Forecourt was vacant this time. However, it has not been confirmed whether or not the Southern Forecourt was reserved for the Jewish community yesterday evening for the candle projection as the Premier stated he would do had similar circumstances arose as tragically has happened.

The New South Wales Premier’s Department has been asked for confirmation.

Yellow Building Illuminations

Lastly, buildings around New South Wales were also lit yellow, the colour being chosen, according to 7 News, as it was the favourite colour of the youngest victim, 10-year-old Matilda Britvan. The buildings illuminated yellow included (this list updates):

  • Sydney Football Stadium
  • Sydney Cricket Ground
  • Art Gallery Of NSW
  • Australian Museum
  • Sydney Tower
  • Sydney Town Hall
  • Tumbalong Park Sound Shell
  • International Convention Centre
  • Barangaroo Towers
  • Manly Town Hall
  • Sydney Olympic Park including Stadium Australia
  • Parramatta Square (building)
  • Western Sydney Stadium
  • Goulburn Visitor Centre
  • Orange Town Centre
  • Wagga Wagga Town Centre

All the above illuminations occurred from sunset (8:05pm) to Midnight.

Unlike the Sydney Opera House western sails projection for Chanukah, all these illuminations are in remembrance of the victims of the massacre & Jewish genocide terrorism. Sydney Spectaculars is, therefore, not considering this projection as a ‘Spectacular‘.

More to come.