The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has announced that their Sydney New Year’s Eve (NYE) 2024 concert on the Northern Forecourt of the Sydney Opera House will celebrate national youth radio station Triple J’s 50th anniversary.
Triple J first aired on the 19th of January 1975 as Double J before being renamed to it’s current name on the 11th of July 1980.
They will celebrate the 50th anniversary milestone by covering popular songs from Triple J’s Hottest 100 music polls, first held in 1989.
The announcement of the concert theme was made on Thursday the 9th of May 2024.
Last edition’s Happy New Year concert featured 34 songs. Based on this, here are our predictions on which 34 songs will feature at the 2024 concert based on previous Hottest 100 music polls:
Like a Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan
God Only Knows – The Beach Boys
The End – The Doors
Respect – Aretha Franklin
A Day in the Life – The Beatles
Imagine – John Lennon
Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin
Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd
Anarchy in the U.K. – Sex Pistols
Wuthering Heights – Kate Bush
Alison – Elvis Costello
Rock Lobster – The B-52’s
Shivers – The Boys Next Door
Love Will Tear Us Apart – Joy Division
Throw Your Arms Around Me – Hunters & Collectors
Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana
Heart-Shaped Box – Nirvana
Last Goodbye – Jeff Buckley
Wonderwall – Oasis
These Days – Powderfinger
Big Jet Plane – Angus & Julia Stone
Pumped Up Kicks – Foster the People
Somebody That I Used to Know – Gotye featuring Kimbra
The Less I Know the Better – Tame Impala
Never Be Like You – Flume featuring Kai
Humble – Kendrick Lamar
Confidence – Ocean Alley
bad guy – Billie Eilish
Heat Waves – Glass Animals
Elephant – Tama Impala (The Wiggles cover)
Say Nothing – Flume featuring May-a
Believe – Cher (DMA’s cover)
Paint the Town Red – Doja Cat
As 2 of the songs we have predicted are covers, we are expecting the ABC to try and get The Wiggles & DMAs to perform live at the concert. DMA’s have previously performed at the concert at Sydney NYE2020 – Thank You.
All this is speculation for now, but confirmation of the artists should come from early December, when tickets for the concert also go on sale at the time of the Sydney NYE2024 media launch.
The City Of Sydney has awarded Foti International Fireworks the contract to provide the fireworks for Sydney New Year’s Eve (NYE) 2024 & 2025 with 2 two-year options to extend beyond those editions to up to & including NYE2029.
The decision was made unanimously at a City Of Sydney Corporate, Finance, Properties & Tenders Committee meeting on Monday the 14th of August 2023, where they also resolved to delegate the authority to finalise, execute & administer the contracts to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Monica Barone, before being finalised, also unanimously, at a City Of Sydney Council meeting on Monday the 21st of August 2023.
As part of the tender process for this contract, respondents had to provide information on initiatives to continue reducing the event’s environmental impact. This information will assist the City in analysing and reporting against the environmental performance of the event. After each edition of Sydney NYE, the CEO will provide an update to Councillors on the just completed edition’s environmental performance.
There were 2 respondents to the tender: Foti International Fireworks & Howard and Sons Pyrotechnics.
During the Corporate, Finance, Properties & Tenders Committee meeting on Monday the 14th of August 2023, the Deputy Lord Mayor at the time, Greens Councillor, Sylvie Ellsmore, revealed the City Of Sydney had considered a drone show over “8 sites” but this was deemed currently not viable when it was revealed to Councillors in a briefing they were given by their Council staff a week earlier.
The City Life Director, Emma Rigney, also revealed at that meeting that the contract is designed to be 2 years with 2 two-year optional extensions in case of any environmental improvements or alternatives arising out of the Big Creative Ideas initiative that was launched last year.
The contract was signed on Monday the 13th of November 2023 & is worth AUD$7,804,000 or AUD$1,300,666.7 per edition.
The yacht race, affectionally known as The Great Race South, starts annually at 1pm & traditionally on Boxing Day (26 December) in Sydney Harbour & sees single-hulled yachts of roughly 9 to 30 metres in length, travel 628 nautical miles (1163.06 kilometres) in order to be the 1st yacht & crew to arrive in Hobart, Tasmania. The journey involves navigating out of Sydney Harbour & Heads passing 2 buoys before travelling south down the New South Wales coast before crossing the edge of the notorious Bass Strait to reach Tasmania, where they travel down its eastern coast, around the iconic Tasman Island & up the Derwent River to Hobart. The 1st to reach in line with & to the east of Hobart’s Battery Point wins the race’s line honours. There are other race categories, mostly handicaps, but line honours is the only category that features all competitors.
Historically, out of 78 editions, the yacht that has won the most line honours is Wild Oats XI, who was skippered by Mark Richards with Robbie Naismith, Iain Murray & Rodney Daniel as 3 of the many crewpersons, winning 9 times in the editions of 2005-2008, 2010, 2012-2014 & 2018.
The current race record was set in 2017 by LDV Comanche, skippered by Jim Cooney with Casey Smith as Sailing Master, Stan Honey as Navigator & a crew of 17 other people, in a time of 1 day, 9 hours, 15 minutes & 24 seconds (or 27 December, 10:15:24pm).
The sailor with the most line honours victories is Steve Jarvin at 15 victories while Bruce Farr of Farr Yacht Designis the designer of the most winning line honours yachts.
Entering yachts are confirmed about 2 months prior to the race in late October. Entries for the 2024 race closed on Friday the 25th of October 2024 with 112 yachts confirmed including 23 double-handed entrants & 4 30.48 metre long (100 foot) maxis. These yachts include 105 from Australia, 2 from France & 1 each from the United States of America (USA), New Zealand (NZ), China, the Philippines & Japan. Out of the 105 yachts from Australia, currently there are:
61 from New South Wales
15 from Queensland
12 from Victoria
10 from Tasmania
4 from South Australia,
2 from Western Australia &
1 from an unknown state/territory
Winning against the world’s best was a dream come true & we are working hard to do it again.
Christian Beck, ‘LawConnect’ Owner & 2023 Race Skipper
Notable confirmed entries include LawConnect, last year’s line honours winner, Comanche, 4-time line honours winner, Bacardi (‘The Bus’), the yacht with the most races entered, URM Group, Moneypenny, No Limit, Whisper, Willow, Caro (NZ), Katwinchar, Wild Thing 100, Ocean Crusaders J-Bird & debutants, Maritimo 100, Fika, Bacchanal (USA) & Cocody (France). The current International Rating Certificate (IRC) handicap class trophy, the Tattersall Cup, holder, Alive, will also try to win it for a 3rd time:
We’re excited to be back, proudly representing Tasmania in the 79th edition & we are hopeful to back up our previous victory. We are in it to win it. Phillip (Turner, the yacht owner) & the whole team are very excited.
Duncan Hine, ‘Alive’ skipper
Officiating the race are umpires, 3 committees (technical, race & protest) & an international jury.
Spectators can watch the race for free. However, to gain access to the Sydney Harbour exclusion zone & be precisely on the start line, there is only 1 spectator boat allowed – the official spectator vessel. This year, the official spectator vessel is The Jackson, a luxury superyacht. Public access is only to the main deck, which has 270-degree views, with the mid & top decks reserved for private functions. New for 2024 are additional, even more comfortable, tables & seating. Tickets are $390 per person & are on sale usually from June. Apart from the race, The Jackson‘s main deck includes canapés, substantial snacks, premium beverages & a 5-meter light-emitting diode screen of the official television broadcast. Official event merchandise is also available for purchase on board. It departs from King Street Wharf 2.75 hours before the race start, returning 2 hours after the race start. Boarding begins half an hour prior to departure from King Street Wharf. There are many other private cruises available for purchase, but they are all are outside of the exclusion zone.
The Jackson Photograph: Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race
While the race begins on 26 December & can finish within 2 days, the yachts can finish as late as January 6 – 11 days later! Also, at the start & finish cities are Race Villages. These Villages have entertainment, event merchandise, food, drinks & children’s activities.
The Sydney Race Village, held at the Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia, opens about 20 days prior to the race start, on the 6th of December, formally beginning the whole event. It hosts a Women in Sailing Cocktail Party, The Commodore’s Beer & Prawn Night, an outdoor screen for live coverage of sailing events on Sydney Harbour & outdoor seating. On Boxing Day, for the race start, family activities are held at the Sydney Race Village before the Village closes for that edition later that day.
Between the 13th & 15th December inclusive is the Sydney-Hobart Classic Yacht Regatta. A regatta is a series of boat races. This regatta features previous Sydney-Hobart race entrants that launched their yacht over 33 years ago. It features 2 pointscore races of varying courses in 3 handicap divisions while an extra race to open the Regatta combines all divisions into 1, with no points scored & uses the same course. All races are held in the iconic stretch of waterway that features the start of the Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race with 1 race occurring each day.
The Hobart Race Village, held waterside at Constitution Dock, opens at 12pm on the 27th of December & closes on January 1st, formally ending the whole event unless there are still more yachts to finish, which could be the case. The Hobart Race Village has an information desk, question and answer sessions, daily live music & the informal trophy prizegiving ceremonies for the line honours & IRC handicap winners, the latter handicap category making up about 63% of the racing fleet.
Vendors already confirmed for the Hobart Race Village include Richard Bennett,Brown Brothers Family Winemakers, Devil’s Corner, Dark Lab, Daiquiri Isle PL, KaKi LiMa Indonesian Street Food, Kung Fu Canteen, Culinary Kitchen, Jasmine Kitchen, Orlando Plenty & Monica’s Fairy Floss.
There is also a formal trophy prizegiving ceremony at Hobart’s Hotel Grand Chancellor at 3pm on New Year’s Eve.
The 2024 race will have its media launch in late November. 8 rule changes though were announced in June when entries opened but they were mainly to do with safety/weather, handicap category requirements/allowances & crew composition but nothing that would significantly affect line honours or change the sporting nature of line honours.
Therefore, Sydney Spectaculars believes it is the right time to include sailing events into the events we cover & the most famous sailing race in Sydney is the Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race, that starts in Sydney Harbour.
We considered whether or not the sailing in The Games Of The Olympiad, which Sydney hosted in 2000, is more ‘spectacular’. We decided that the Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race is unique from the sailing in the Olympics. In 1896, whilst cancelled, the sailing in The Games Of The Olympiad involved only naval ships. In 1900, events were based on weight. In 1904-1968, events were based on length. In 1920, geometric area was also considered. In 1924 & from 1932 to the present, the races were also based on the overall design of the boats (i.e. all boats must be of the same design. That is, ‘one design’.).
To enter the Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race, yachts mainly are required to be single-hulled & with a length of 9 to 31 metres. Currently in the Games Of The Olympiad, events require boats of a length less than 9 metres. The longest sailing boats in the Games Of The Olympiad are 5 metres long & out of the 10 events, 1 event involves a multi-hulled boat. Even though there is no ‘one design’ rule for all entrants in the Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race (there is a special handicap category though), the race’s boat eligibility requirements are distinct enough from The Games Of The Olympiad’s rules to deem the race just as spectacular as Olympic sailing.
History
In 1944, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) was formed. A yacht cruise from Sydney to Hobart was proposed by some club members in early 1945 to take place on Boxing Day (26 December) that year. In the middle of 1945, Royal Navy (UK) Officer, Captain John Illingworth, visited the Club & heard about the plans for the cruise. He suggested to turn it into a race – an idea the club took up & on Boxing Day 1945, The Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race first set sail.
It was an immediate hit. The race record dropped dramatically over the 1st generation of competitive sailors from a week to 2.5 days, where it halted for 2 decades, when it was broken twice in 4 editions in the late 1990’s. It took another 6 editions before it was broken again in 2005. Another 12 years passed before it was most recently broken in 2017.
The 1982 edition was the most competitive race so far with the top 2 finishing, for line honours, 7 seconds apart. Last year’s edition comes in at a close 2nd with a gap of 51 seconds.
Tragedy stuck in the 1998 edition when 5 people drowned, 1 dying from a heart attack, 55 people being rescued, 5 boats sinking & 7 boats being left abandoned when an unusually intense low-pressure system formed, resulting in winds of 118 kilometres per hour with gusts of 148 kilometres per hour. It resulted in Australia’s largest peacetime rescue operation with 27 Royal Australian Navy vessels & 35 aircraft searching. Only 38% of the racing fleet completed the race.
For the 1999 edition, rules were tightened but by the 2000 edition, the Coronial Inquest found the CYCA simply “observed” the race rather than “managing” it while also criticising the Bureau Of Meteorology, the Australian Government’s weather forecast agency, for failing to provide an updated forecast, which included the fateful storm, to the CYCA. The CYCA’s Race Director also resigned as a result, particularly after the Coroner felt they would repeat the same mistakes in the future.
In the 2001 edition, a 500-metre wide 190km/h waterspout with golf ball-size hail struck several boats on Boxing Day, severely damaging one, which managed to finish the race. In the 2004 edition, just over half the fleet finished the race due to severe storms, which this time only caused 1 sinking with no lives lost.
The Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race currently has a daily average attendance of 67,000 people and a daily broadcast average audience of 86,000 people though up until 2019, only the start was televised as a special event broadcast. The start sees 400,000 people gather around Sydney Harbour & 700,000 watch on television and via the Internet from around the world. 93,000 people from around the world, on average, watch the line honours finish via television or the Internet. The actual in-person attendance for the line honours finish fluctuates greatly every year as the finish could be in the early morning hours! However, we estimate that if it was in the middle of the daytime with perfect weather for watching & competitive sailing, it would be no more than 13,000 people.
So to acknowledge the fact it is the world’s most famous annual sailing race & it’s sporting iconography for Sydney, we have decided to designate The Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race as a flagship Sydney Spectacular.
What if I cannot attend the event?
From 2024 & in a multi-year deal, the Australian broadcast rights for the start are held by the 9 Network, after a long stint by the 7 Network, but if it is like recent rights with the 7 Network, they are non-exclusive rights. The whole race is livestreamed via YouTube in the form of morning and afternoon updates with live coverage of the start & finish of various yachts & categories including line honours as well as the prizegiving ceremony. It has been confirmed 9Now will show all this, which is a significant change to the previous 7+ coverage, which only featured the start live & on-demand.
The Rolex Sydney Hobart is Australia’s summer sporting icon & we couldn’t be more excited to chart a new era for the race and its competitors through Nine’s huge storytelling ecosystem. It aligns perfectly with our portfolio of world class sporting events & we look forward to partnering with the Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia, their team and sponsors to grow the footprint of this extraordinary event across Australia.
Michael Stephenson, 9 Network Chief Sales Officer & Local Markets Managing Director
Sydney Spectaculars will be providing coverage of the 2024 race. Assuming the television & digital rights are still non-exclusive, this will include all scheduled live streams embedded on our ‘Watch LIVE’ page. We will try to embed unscheduled live streams but owing to the effect of weather on the race and the fact some yachts may finish suddenly in the middle of the night, this may not be possible. However, we will provide a link to where you can find the unscheduled live streams. This will especially be the case if the television & digital rights turn out to be exclusive to the 9 Network in Australia.
The Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race is also part of the Blue Water Pointscore – a series of 6 races from July to December, concluding with the Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race. These additional races are not considered a ‘flagship’ Sydney Spectacular. The series began in 1958 & currently begins in July with the 2nd most ‘spectacular’ race on Sydney Harbour – the Sydney-Gold Coast Yacht Race. The other 4 races currently include the Flinders Islet Race (Sydney-Illawarra-Sydney), the Tollgate Islands Race (Sydney-Batemans Bay-Sydney), the Bird Island Race (Sydney-Central Coast-Sydney) & the Cabbage Tree Island Race (Sydney-Nelson Bay-Sydney). The latter race actually begins on the day the Sydney Race Village opens & is the opening race in the international Australian Maxi Championship.
The Australian Maxi Championship lasts 5 days & features 3 other races down Sydney Harbour and out to off Sydney’s coast & back. A maxi is a yacht that is a minimum of 18 metres long. On the Australian Maxi Championships‘ final day, the Big Boat Challenge is the final race held & just like in the Sydney-Hobart, is open to all yachts down to a minimum of 9 metres in length. This race is held mainly along the waterway that hosts the iconic start of the Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race but instead of finishing in Hobart, they finish at the World Heritage-Listed Sydney Opera House!
If speed, rather than meteorological tactics, is more your style, the Australia Sail Grand Prize (SailGP) of the SailGP Championship is held just to the northwest of Shark Island in early February each year. All sailing vessels in this event are the F50 – a 15-metre-long multi-hull foiling sailing vessel.
There are also other regattas held on Sydney Harbour throughout the year including the one on Australia Day around Shark Island, which is the oldest continuously run annual sailing event in the world & is open to any racing boat. If more than 5 similar boats enter, organisers may form a special division for those boats to race against each other.
The Sail Sydney Regatta is held on Sydney Harbour on the 6-9th December when the Sydney Race Village is open & includes the sailing boat classes that feature in The Games Of The Olympiad excluding windsurfing & kiteboarding, as well as classes of similar to mid-sized sailing craft. Races are held in classes, but some classes may race at the same time on the same course.
There is also, as mentioned earlier, the Tall Ships Race at 1pm on Australia Day from Bradley’s Head to the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The Ferrython on Australia Day does not count as that is not a sailing event due to the ferries having motors.
As you can see, Sydney Harbour has a rich history of sailing with its pinnacle the Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race.
Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race, it’s time to set sail!
It was a sparkling Sydney day as the city nearly always does on major event days such as this. Arriving at Circular Quay, it was hard to miss the long snaking queue of Royal fans winding it’s way down East Circular Quay, along the Promenade across to West Circular Quay & the Overseas Passenger Terminal. The length easily meant a long wait to the gates of the Sydney Opera House. However, I didn’t need to join this queue as the best viewing spot for the Monarchical Fleet Review was on the water. For these events, a land vantage point always blocks some portion of the review. On the water, this disadvantage is all but removed.
Arriving at 3:45pm, 45 minutes after the Sydney Opera House gates opened would have ensured it was hard to see the Royal couple at the Sydney Opera House given people had been waiting to enter since as early as 5:30am & the time that has passed since the gates opened would have meant the best spots were already gone. If you were just happy to see them at the Opera House rather than meet & greet them, joining the queue for the 4:20pm start for the meet & greet would have been worth the wait.
But for the Fleet Review, on the water is the best. At the Sydney Opera House, spectators were prevented from accessing the relevant shoreline for the Fleet Review by security until the Royal couple had hopped on board their boat so being at the Sydney Opera House would have meant missing the start of the Fleet Review on the water despite being at a waterside vantage point. The Northern Forecourt was also sealed off for the entire event.
When the Fleet Review started, the Admiral Hudson took the Royal couple along the edge of Farm Cove so spectators in the Royal Botanic Gardens & The Domain could see them. Apart from a small patch of spectators at the Opera House gates and at Mrs Macquarie’s Point, the Farm Cove shoreline was noticeably empty. Once they finished their journey around Farm Cove, the formal inspection of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) ships begun.
I was on board the Pearl, a cruise vessel operated by Sydney Princess Cruises. I checked-in at their ticket booth just off the Eastern Pontoon of Circular Quay. The ticket booth operator greeted me with brilliant customer service – they managed to guess who I was before I told them who I was. They gave me my ticket & waited for the vessel to arrive at 3:55pm.
The vessel arrived a little bit late but that wasn’t a problem. King Charles, was in fact, running behind schedule at this point too & the Fleet Review was scheduled to start at 4:50pm – plenty of time for the vessel to arrive & take us to Farm Cove, where the Fleet Review would begin.
The Pearl arrived at 4pm, 5 minutes late to the ticket operator’s instruction but it was the scheduled time for the cruise, and we boarded, greeted kindly by the staff on board. The vessel has 2 interior levels & an open deck on top. I didn’t pay much attention to the lower boarding deck, but the upper interior deck had tables with 6 chairs each nicely arranged for people to relax at. The top open deck was wide & spacious. For refreshments, this cruise only had simply tea & coffee as its focus was on sightseeing rather than dining. With a capacity of 140 people, which would be full on New Year’s Eve, I expected about 10 people on board for this event. The cruise probably received about triple this but was still low enough to make the cruise rather pleasurable compared to the hustle & bustle of a New Year’s Eve cruise, though the fireworks would make that discomfort worth it.
The cruise departed at 4:16pm – 16 minutes late – but again, the Fleet Review wasn’t to be for just over half an hour & the King himself was late too. The trip began by going around the Sydney Opera House. At around 4:27pm, whilst crossing Farm Cove & approaching the nearest RAN ship anchored for review, His Majesty’s Australian Ship (HMAS) Warramunga, the boatswain’s call could be heard being blown from the ship as a cruiser went past. Knowing the King was scheduled to arrive at the Sydney Opera House at 4:20pm, a full 7 minutes prior, despite knowing he was running behind schedule, out of a rush of excitement, I thought the cruiser was his & that he decided to do the Fleet Review first and was just finishing! Everyone on board both boats waved enthusiastically at each other, 1 happy to see spectators, the other thinking they were seeing the King & Queen.
Looking at the vessel, it was definitely his cruiser, the Admiral Hudson, as confirmed to us by our commentator who delivered us the news that the New South Wales (NSW) Police had yelled over the radio to the captain to stay away from the vessel (despite the official website saying the exclusion zones didn’t come into effect until the Fleet Review started) but I noticed the King’s Flag For Australia was not flying so he wasn’t on board. It later turned out they were delivering the Governor-General & Australian Defence Force (ADF) officers to Man O’War Steps. Important dignitaries but still, the NSW Government should provide more accurate exclusion zone advice prior to the event. In any case, even though the Pearl passed the Admiral Hudson, the Admiral Hudson also kept to its path. If there was a real security threat posed by a marine vessel that was within an in-effect 100-metre exclusion zone surrounding the Admiral Hudson, ploughing on through as if the marine vessel wasn’t there is not a good idea and in fact, would heighten the security risk. The NSW Government & the RAN should be more proactive in this regard.
Anyway, after that little incident, the cruise went around Sydney Harbour on a sightseeing tour heading east to near Shark Island before turning around. The Harbour had a steady breeze and keeping our balance on the choppy water was, at times, a challenge. Our commentator gave us a nice simple commentary neatly catering to the international tourist. He spoke clearly and kindly gave updates on the King & Queen’s whereabouts throughout the journey. At this point, the ‘pre-show entertainment’ began – 2 helicopters flying around with a flag under them – 1 the Australian National Flag & 1 the RAN Ensign. They flew around until the end of the Fleet Review, emphasising the pride Australia has in itself & their Navy.
Throughout this journey, we passed the other 4 RAN vessels anchored in Sydney Harbour. All 5 were dressed ship & decks manned with sailors in ceremonial uniform ready for review. There were also other working RAN vessels that were sailing around the Harbour. Garden Island also had the full complement of RAN sailors from ships that couldn’t attend neatly lined up in a row of white along the foreshore ready for the King. Throughout the sightseeing portion of the trip, the King & Queen arrived at the Sydney Opera House and conducted their meet & greet.
Our vessel then hung around the eastern shore of Kirribilli. This time, though, there was an actual breach of the exclusion zone around Kirribilli Point, which has the King & Queen’s temporary residence in Australia – Admiralty House – normally the Governor-General’s Sydney residence & the Prime Minister’s residence – Kirribilli House. A 200-metre exclusion zone was in force around the Point & whilst waiting nearby, the current took the Pearl into the exclusion zone. A New South Wales Police officer on a small vessel promptly motored to the vessel & ordered the captain out of the exclusion zone immediately, though there was some confusion on the part of the crew (at least the commentator, who oddly seemed to be the main communicator between the police officer & the captain) as to what they accidentally did wrong. The captain took us out of the exclusion zone & as we hovered nearby outside the exclusion zone, we promptly see a yacht being told off for the same thing.
Over at the Man O’ War Steps, at 5:12pm, we could see the Admiral Hudson depart indicating the Fleet Review had begun, though 20 minutes late, but unexpectedly, as mentioned before, it did a brief slow journey along the foreshore of Farm Cove for the few spectators there (as that area was promoted as an official vantage point) so it technically didn’t begin until that was completed. Sydney’s sailing fleet was waiting between Garden Island and Mrs Macquarie’s Point for the King and Queen to arrive & then, to follow them around. Over in the distance, over South Head in the east, heading south was the helicopter flypast by the Australian Army & RAN about to turn to make their flypast over what is, ultimately, their Commander-In-Chief.
This fleet review was historically significant as it was to become the 1st ever conducted on Sydney Harbour by the Monarch of Australia. After reviewing the 1st ship, HMAS Warramunga, the helicopter flypast occurred by the Australian Army & RAN – 17 minutes earlier than planned during the Fleet Review (though 11 minutes late in real time). They flew in perfect precision and was quite a sight with the ‘chudda-chudda-chudda’ of the spinning rotors reminding everyone of the sacrifices that our Defence personnel make or could ultimately make. It was just as spectacular as the one they did in 2013 for the International Fleet Review. There also a late addition – a Bell UH-1 Iroquois ‘Huey’ helicopter from the Historic Aircraft Restoration Society Museum in Shellharbour, where the Sydney Spectacular – Airshows Downunder Shellharbour – is based.
With the helicopter flypast surprisingly done already, the Admiral Hudson then went to review the sailors at Garden Island. When they arrived there, our vessel began the journey to catch up with those nearby waiting vessels, who had begun following the King. We then saw, from a distance (as the crew were now worried about breaking the exclusion zone even more times), the King & Queen review 3 other ships. Their path was a simple circular trip up to near Shark Island, similar to the sightseeing portion of our cruise. Whilst we couldn’t make out the King & Queen, the RAN sailors were clear as day, standing immaculately with patience & loyalty before the commanding officer of their ship boomed out of the ship’s loudspeakers the words: “3 cheers for His Majesty King Charles The 3rd. Hip. Hip, hip” before all the sailors waved their caps in circular motion with a big loyal “Hooray!”. The hips & hoorays were then twice repeated before the order was given for the sailors to redon their caps.
The Pearl had followed a smaller circular trip, roughly half the size of the 1st one, in order to follow the King & Queen. As they approached the final ship, HMAS Arunta, we were now in viewing range of the King & Queen whilst maintaining the 100-metre exclusion zone around the Admiral Hudson. They then went out of viewing range before it returned into range in the midst of The King’s review of HMAS Arunta.
The Admiral Hudson, which all the vessels were following, then made speed for Admiralty House. There, King Charles and Queen Camilla left the vessel & were in viewing range. The Queen’s white dress, in the sea of white ceremonial navy uniforms, was so bright that it stood out. You couldn’t miss it. King Charles’s suit blended in with his surroundings and the Governor-General’s choice of similar colouring didn’t help matters but the King was able to be seen once you spotted him.
They paused on Admiralty House’s wharf as sneaking up behind us, in the east, was 4 Royal Australian Air Force jets flying in close formation past Admiralty House & over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. They roared overhead to provide a fitting finale to the Monarchical Fleet Review similar to the famous balcony appearances the King & Queen make at Buckingham Palace after Trooping The Colour and other significant Royal events in London.
The King & Queen then climbed the long stairway up to Admiralty House & as they neared the top, the Pearl sailed passed the Sydney Opera House back into Circular Quay to the Eastern Pontoon, arriving back at 5:54pm, 6 minutes earlier than scheduled – though the cruise’s finish time was entirely based on when the Fleet Review finished, which was scheduled to finish at 5:20pm.
The commentator kindly asked us to remain on the decks until instructed & when the all-clear was given to disembark, we left to the sight of the next waiting crowd of cruisegoers on Sydney Harbour. The crew of the Pearl all kindly thanked us for cruising with them that afternoon as we disembarked.
At a price of $55 per adult & $40 for children, the cruise was great value for money especially if you were a tourist after a simple plain sightseeing cruise, which I entirely recommend. The only hiccup was the accidental Admiralty House exclusion zone breach and the subsequent understandable nervousness of the crew to get as close as possible to the Admiral Hudson. However, the crew’s, at least the commentator’s, lack of not realising what they had accidentally done wrong was a bit concerning.
With the Monarchical Fleet Review, whilst the schedule should have been better kept & exclusion zone advice made clearer, the event was simply run to perfection – a Sydney Spectacular. What other body of water in the world could host such a review of a naval fleet by a country’s head of state? The images ran around the world. Even on a small scale compared to 2013, it was still spectacular.
The ADF, in particular the RAN, should be proud. Though their helicopter pilots were eager to make their salute, they once again delivered.
They & Sydney Princess Cruises passed my inspection.
12:13pm: The Royal Australian Air Force Boeing 737 MAX 8 BBJ business jet (‘ASY348’) that is carrying King Charles & Queen Camilla has turned northeast over the Pacific Ocean & has since left New South Wales (NSW) and Australian airspace simultaneously thus meaning King Charles & Queen Camilla have left NSW & Australia. With that, that concludes our live blog for the Royal visits to Sydney. We don’t expect King Charles & Queen Camilla to return to Australia until 2028 at the earliest but that could have been their last trip to Sydney as in Queen Elizabeth II’s final 3 trips to Australia, when she was 75-85 (King Charles is currently 75), she only visited Sydney once & that was on her penultimate trip so until the next Royal visit (we hope), unless Australia becomes a republic where there will be no more Royal visits, this is Sydney Spectaculars signing off. Goodbye!
12:04pm: The Royal Australian Air Force Boeing 737 MAX 8 BBJ business jet (‘ASY348’) that is carrying King Charles & Queen Camilla turned east immediately after take-off and flew to the coast just north of Maroubra where they went out over the Pacific Ocean leaving Sydney airspace thus meaning King Charles & Queen Camilla have left Sydney.
12:02pm: The Royal Australian Air Force Boeing 737 MAX 8 BBJ business jet (‘ASY348’) that is carrying King Charles & Queen Camilla has now taken off from Sydney Airport’s 3rd runway.
11:45am: The Royal Australian Air Force Boeing 737 MAX 8 BBJ business jet (‘ASY348’) that is carrying King Charles & Queen Camilla is now taxiing to the runway.
11:30am: King Charles & Queen Camilla have arrived at Sydney Airport’s private terminal. They were greeted & farewelled by dignitaries including the Governor-General Of Australia, Sam Mostyn, the New South Wales (NSW) Governor, Margaret Beazley & the Deputy Premier of NSW, Prue Car. They then climbed the airstairs, turned around & waved goodbye before boarding their Royal Australian Air Force Boeing 737 MAX 8 BBJ business jet (‘ASY348’).
11:05am: Welcome to Day 6, the final day, of our live blog! King Charles & Queen Camilla have just left Admiralty House at Kirribilli Point on Sydney Harbour, by car with police escort, for Sydney Airport’s private terminal, where they should arrive in 25 minutes.
22nd Of October
11pm: To anyone who wants to see the Royal Australian Air Force flyover of 4 jets up Sydney Harbour which concluded the Monarchical Fleet Review, click ‘Watch LIVE’ and you will find a video from Sky News United Kingdom of the whole Meet And Greet & Review, which has the concluding flypast. Again, we will be back tomorrow morning to cover their departure from Sydney, New South Wales & Australia.
6pm: And with that Royal Australian Air Force flyover of 4 jets up Sydney Harbour (which the Australian Broadcasting Corporation did not show in their broadcast), that concludes the Monarchical Fleet Review! After being giving a couple of gifts from the Royal Australian Navy, in the form of caps & a book on Admiralty House’s wharf, King Charles & Queen Camilla are now inside Admiralty House where they will rest for the remainder of the day. With that, that concludes our live blog for this the 5th day of the Royal visits to Sydney. We will be back tomorrow morning to cover their departure from Sydney, New South Wales & Australia. Until then!
King Charles & Queen Camilla waving to the crowds on board the Admiral Hudson Photograph: Reuters/Toby Melville/Pool
4:30pm:BREAKING NEWS After been picked up by his wife at Melanoma Institute Australia, King Charles & Queen Camilla have arrived by car at the Sydney Opera House for the Monarchical Fleet Review! Click ‘Watch LIVE’ to watch it live! We will leave the blog here to enjoy it!
4:15pm: We are live on the Pearl on Sydney Harbour. The entertainment has just begun with a helicopter coming in from the east flying the Australian National Flag underneath.
4:10pm: King Charles is now visiting Melanoma Institute Australia in Wollstonecraft with the Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, where he is meeting the Australians Of The Year. Queen Camilla is still at Admiralty House resting.
3:30pm:King Charles is now attending the launch of the King’s Foundation Australia at a reception in Admiralty House with the Australian Governor-General, Sam Mostyn, New South Wales (NSW) Governor, Margaret Beazley & the NSW Heritage Minister, Penny Sharpe. After 2 speeches were made, neither by the King, he unveiled a plaque commemorating the launch. Queen Camilla is still at Admiralty House resting. The King is running a bit behind schedule, so they are both now behind schedule even though Queen Camilla is just resting.
2:45pm: King Charles is now attending the Sustainable Markets Initiative Discussion at Admiralty House with the Australian Governor-General, Sam Mostyn. Queen Camilla is at Admiralty House resting.
2pm: King Charles & Queen Camilla have now left the Western Sydney Community Barbeque to return, by car, to Admiralty House at Kirribilli Point on Sydney Harbour.
1:55pm: Renowned chef, Adam Liaw, is Master Of Ceremonies at the Western Sydney Community Barbeque. He is now introducing the Premier Of New South Wales (NSW), Chris Minns, who steps up to make a speech. King Charles follows him in making a speech.
Thank you so much, ladies & gentleman. Thanks for being here & we thank the Darug people for welcoming us onto their land. For all of us today, what a great honour we get to tell our family & our friends that we had a barbeque with the King & the Queen. It’s not the kind of thing that you’ll easily forget.
Your Majesty, this might be your 1st visit to Australia as a Sovereign but it’s certainly not your 1st visit as a friend. For 60 years, you’ve been coming to our city and our state & in that time, you’ve witnessed… you’ve witnessed the latest chapter in the long story of change that’s happened in Western Sydney. That story starts in ancient times as the home & hunting ground of the Burramattagal people then prior to self-government as the centre of farming and agriculture in New South Wales & since then, in our lifetime, the heart of multicultural Australia. In the same way that the British Commonwealth pulls together 56 nations into a single body, Western Sydney has stitched the world into a single community & without being too immodest, I think it’s an example to the world of how we can live together as 1 people despite our differences. That success is built on our citizens, on everyone here today but it also comes from the principles & traditions of British democracy & British law: Parliamentary sovereignty, government by the people & now because of these strengths, we’re a country that stands for freedom & hope around the world.
Friends, on Sunday morning, His Majesty visited our State Parliament to recognise 200 years of self-rule in New South Wales & he gave us a very thoughtful gift and from my perspective as Premier, a very useful one too. He gave the Parliament a new hourglass timekeeper, in his words, ‘to encourage brevity in speeches from politicians’ (crowd laughs) so Your Ma…(chuckles) so Your…Don’t cheer that! So Your Majesty, I’m going to follow this lesson so thank you to all for coming here today & a special thanks to the farmers and the Royal Agricultural Society who fed us this afternoon and who continue to deliver the best produce in the entire world. (crowd claps) You’ve all…You’ve all…Thank you. You’ve all been invited here because of your exceptional contribution to this state so please join me now in showing how we welcome guests in Australia & how grateful we all are to have His Majesty in our country. Please welcome His Majesty.
Chris Minns, NSW Premier
Uh, Premier and, and, and Mrs Minns, Deputy Premier and Mr Hull & um, Matthew Doyle, if I may say so, for the moving welcome uh, onto the beautiful lands of the Dar, Darug people on, on, on which we’re gathered today so thank you very much for that very kind introduction.
I knew I should’ve brought the egg timer that, along with me just to check that I didn’t go on for too long but having visited, uh, Western, uh, Sydney on a number of occasions over more than 50 years now from Liverpool to Richmond, uh, it is always a particular pleasure to return to the, to the neighbourhood & that is why, if I may say so, I’m, I’m so delighted to be here in Parramatta. An excellent choice for a community barbeque since Parramatta was a place, uh, where First Nations people from around the region also came together for generations to meet & trade food so it’s a particular delight to see & smell all the top tucker here today from Western Sydney’s vibrant & diverse community.
Ever since I, I 1st came to Australia very nearly, can you believe this, 60 years ago to attend school in, uh, Geelong & uh, also to hack my way through the bush country around Mansfield in Victoria, the generous spirit of Australians has always made me feel welcome & that is true again today so my wife and I are really glad to be back in Sydney but especially pleased to be here in, in Parramatta for the 1st time. It’s also a great joy to renew my long association with the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales which for more than 200 years has carried out such outstanding work to champion the farming community & the production of the highest quality produce as we are happily rediscovering today, New South Wales farmers continue to produce truly outstanding food & wine. It is no wonder, I think, that Sydney is, uh, world-famous for its cuisine, whether its smashed avo, uh, a pav or a cab sav, uh, &, uh, that is what I hope has been on display.
(puts sheet of paper under another)
Now, ever since, um, IIIIIII…(tries to turn to another sheet of paper)…God almighty, they’ve done 2 pages of this bloody thing, right. (crowd laughs) (put sheet of paper under another) You’re seriously kidding me.
Anyway, I must say it is a real pleasure to have just have this chance to try this produce but also crucially, to meet, uh, the people who make it happen, working tirelessly in all seasons and in all weathers & developing an intimate understanding of the importance of caring for nature & making it part & parcel of their endeavours so being here in Western Sydney also gives me an opportunity to see it 1st hand what I’ve heard about before & that is that Parramatta and the region around it has become 1 of the most dynamic, enterprising and culturally diverse communities in the world & I just want to particularly acknowledge the community leaders and volunteers who are here today & who contribute so much to Western Sydney and beyond. As I said when I was in Australia back in 2012, our volunteers are the glue which, um, holds together such a diverse, energetic & determined society. I always have the greatest admiration for them & the wonderful work they do for their communities so thank you everyone for coming to join us at this barbie today & more particularly, thank you for the contribution you make to your local communities & beyond.
Thank you, ladies & gentlemen.
Charles R
1:35pm: King Charles & Queen Camilla are now watching a sheep dog trial at the Western Sydney Community Barbeque.
1:20pm: King Charles is visiting some of the food & beverage stalls at the Western Sydney Community Barbeque.
1:05pm: King Charles has taken off the hi-visibilty vests & hard hat in order to depart from the Homes NSW project site on Cowper Street in Glebe. He then hopped into a car, which took him to Parramatta Park, where he was reunited with his wife at the Western Sydney Community Barbeque, where they were welcomed by their host, the Premier & Deputy Premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns & Prue Car respectively. King Charles has participated in another smoking ceremony, this time with Queen Camilla. They were greeted by 500 guests with some children giving King Charles & Queen Camilla flower crowns, one of which the Queen tried on, before they both had a go at barbecuing.
King Charles & Queen Camilla try barbecuing Photograph: Reuters
12:25pm: Queen Camilla has finished her discussion & has left the table to present some awards to some of the students. Before she left, the Workshop had a group photo on the Library’s staircase. She then left Green Square Library in a car to join the King at Parramatta Park for a barbecue with the Western Sydney community in 25 minutes.
12:10pm: The King and all dignitaries donned hi-visibility vests & hard hats for a tour of the construction site, where he was introduced to Julie Bishop, King’s Trust chairperson, who is funding the Homes New South Wales (NSW) project in Glebe, which King Charles then unveiled a plaque at.
King Charles talks in front of plaque unveiled at the Homes NSW project site in Glebe. Photograph: AAP
11:55am: King Charles has left the National Centre For Indigenous Excellence in Redfern & by car, has headed to & arrived at a Homes New South Wales (NSW) project in Glebeon Cowper Street. He was greeted on arrival by the NSW Premier, Chris Minns who introduces him to the Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese.
11:45am: Queen Camilla has arrived at Green Square Library where she met the Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, before moving inside to greet dignitaries. The library is hosting a Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition workshop so for a discussion on the competition, Queen Camilla has now sat at a table which has students who have entered the competition already there.
11:30am: Queen Camilla is now leaving Refettorio meeting members of the public along the way.
11:20am: King Charles is now watching an Indigenous dance performance by the Brolga Dance Academy.
King Charles watching an Indigenous dance performance by the Brolga Dance Academy at the National Centre For Indigenous Excellence in Redfern Photograph: ABC News/Melissa Mackay
11:05am: The cooking is now done & Queen Camilla has taken seat at a table in Refettorio to eat a meal.
11am: Queen Camilla is now meeting dignitaries at Refettorio before putting on an Oz Harvest apron to help cook.
10:55am: King Charles is meeting Elders (privately) & other dignitaries at the National Centre For Indigenous Excellence, where they conduct a Welcome To Country & smoking ceremony.
10:50am: King Charles has arrived at the National Centre For Indigenous Excellence in Redfern.
King Charles arrives at the National Centre For Indigenous Excellence Photograph: ABC News/Melissa Mackay
10:45am: Queen Camilla has just arrived at Refettorio, a restaurant in Surry Hills run by OzHarvest, a food rescue organisation.
10:35am: Welcome to Day 5, the big day, of our live blog! King Charles & Queen Camilla have just left Admiralty House separately by car. King Charles is heading to the National Centre For Indigenous Excellence in Redfern while Queen Camilla is heading to Refettorio, a Surry Hills restaurant.
21st of October
7:25pm: King Charles & Queen Camilla have returned to Admiralty House to rest for the remainder of the day before tomorrow’s big day. With that, that concludes our live blog for this 4th day of the Royal visits to Sydney. We will be back tomorrow at 10:30am to cover the 5th & biggest day of their visits to Sydney which begins with a visit to the National Centre For Indigenous Excellence in Redfern before culminating at 4:50pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time with the historic Monarchical Fleet Review on Sydney Harbour. Until then!
7:05pm: The Royal Australian Air Force Boeing 737 MAX 8 BBJ (‘EVY01’) business jet carrying King Charles & Queen Camilla has arrived at the private terminal. Their Majesties have hopped off the aircraft & entered a car, which is now taking them to Admiralty House at Kirribilli Point on the shores of Sydney Harbour, which they should reach in 20 minutes.
6:50pm: The Royal Australian Air Force Boeing 737 MAX 8 BBJ (‘EVY01’) business jet carrying King Charles & Queen Camilla has landed at Sydney Airport and is taxiing to the private terminal.
6:45pm: In the last few minutes, the Royal Australian Air Force Boeing 737 MAX 8 BBJ (‘EVY01’) business jet carrying King Charles & Queen Camilla entered Sydney’s airspace thus meaning they have returned to Sydney. They are currently flying over the north of the Sydney metropolitan area turning around for landing at Sydney Airport, which should happen shortly.
6:25pm: 5 minutes ago, King Charles & Queen Camilla on their Royal Australian Air Force Boeing 737 MAX 8 BBJ (‘EVY01’) have re-entered New South Wales (NSW) airspace thus meaning they have returned to NSW. They should be touching down in Sydney in 30 minutes.
5:10pm: Welcome back to our live blog of Day 4 of the Royal visits to Sydney! The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has announced they will be showing the Monarchical Fleet Review in full tomorrow live on ABC News 24 in place of normal programming. The program called Royal Tour: King Charles In Sydney begins at 4pm & finishes at 6pm. King Charles & Queen Camilla are still in the Australian Capital Territory but will shortly return to New South Wales & Sydney.
11:40am: The Royal Australian Air Force Boeing 737 MAX 8 BBJ business jet (‘EVY01’) that is flying King Charles & Queen Camilla to Canberra has just left New South Wales (NSW) airspace. King Charles & Queen Camilla have, therefore, left NSW. With that, that concludes our live blog for now. We will be back later this afternoon to cover their return to New South Wales & Sydney.
11:20am: The Royal Australian Air Force Boeing 737 MAX 8 BBJ business jet (‘EVY01’) that is flying King Charles & Queen Camilla to Canberra has just left Sydney airspace. King Charles & Queen Camilla have, therefore, left Sydney.
11:15am: The Royal Australian Air Force Boeing 737 MAX 8 BBJ business jet (‘EVY01’) that is flying King Charles & Queen Camilla to Canberra has just taken off from Sydney Airport.
11:10am: King Charles & Queen Camilla have arrived at Sydney Airport’s private terminal & hopped on their Royal Australian Air Force Boeing 737 MAX 8 BBJ business jet (‘EVY01’), which is now taxiing to the runway.
10:55am: Welcome to Day 4 of our live blog! King Charles & Queen Camilla have just left Admiralty House by car for Sydney Airport to catch a flight to Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory.
20th of October
2:20pm: King Charles has finished his 2 audiences with the Australian Governor-General, Sam Mostyn & New South Wales Governor, Margaret Beazley. He & Queen Camilla will now rest for the remainder of the day at Admiralty House before making their trip to Canberra tomorrow. With that, that concludes our live blog for this 3rd day of the Royal visits. We will be back tomorrow to cover their departure from New South Wales to the Australian Capital Territory & their return.
1:15pm: King Charles is now back at Admiralty House where is holding 2 audiences – one with the Australian Governor-General, Sam Mostyn & the other with the New South Wales Governor, Margaret Beazley.
King Charles & Australian Governor-General, Sam Mostyn inside Admiralty House Photograph: Getty Images
12:25pm: King Charles then left the New South Wales Parliament House & crossed Macquarie Street to make an unscheduled meet & greet with people in the crowd, shaking hands with several of them. He then hopped into a car for the trip back to Admiralty House where he will host a couple of audiences.
King Charles fist pumps a member of the public on Macquarie Street opposite NSW Parliament House Photograph: Getty Images
The reception celebrating the bicentenary of the Legislative Council means Friday night’s arrival at Sydney Airport was an official welcome in the end, though not a public one, with Canberra’s welcome at Parliament House tomorrow being entirely ceremonial & public. This means Monarchical Welcomes are still traditionally celebrated in Sydney for the 1st visit of the reigning monarch.
12:15pm: King Charles was led by Legislative Council President, Ben Franklin, to a new painting by indigenous artist Kim Healey, which was commissioned to mark the Legislative Council’s bicentenary, in the New South Wales (NSW) Parliament House lobby. Featuring the Southern Cross as a symbol of guidance for all Australians, the painting is the 1st from an Indigenous artist in the building.
He was then taken past an exhibition on the Legislative Council, before arriving in the Strangers’ Function Room where at a reception for the Legislative Council bicentenary begun.
King Charles & Legislative Council President, Ben Franklin, walk past a Legislative Council Exhibition followed by the NSW Governor, Margaret Beazley at NSW Parliament House. Photograph: 9 News
Sorry to interrupt your lunch.
Charles R
Trumpeters from NSW Police played as he walked into the room before being introduced as the King Of Australia. King Charles spoke to a few of the members of Parliament, including Kellie Sloane & James Griffin, Legislative Assembly member for the district of Vaucluse & Manly respectively, as he walked into the room before heading to the lectern to make a speech at 12pm.
President of the Legislative Council, Governor & Mr Wilson, Premier, Chief Justice, State Parliamentarians, distinguished guests, ladies & gentlemen.
Having been with you for your 150th anniversary, I am delighted & proud to be able to return to the Parliament of New South Wales, in order to celebrate the occasion of your bicentenary. I would be saying more at a reception in Canberra tomorrow but, uh, I cannot let this opportunity pass without saying a few words to mark this most important milestone.
It is fascinating, I think, to reflect back to, to 200 years ago & thinking about those times makes me wonder what that inaugural handful of members of the New South Wales Legislative Council would make of this Parliament today & of how this great state has progressed. Those original Council members were, as I understand it, squeezed into the old Government House not far from here & then moved into borrowed rooms, uh, in this building. From that vantage point, regardless of their optimism, it, uh, was, no doubt impossible to imagine what is now the vast, uh, & vibrant state of New South Wales which has grown & evolved alongside this legislature – alongside this legislature. To reflect on, uh, the story of this institution & this state, is to see the promise & power of representative democracy.
Generations of voices have been brought together for discussion & debate, grappling with each day’s challenges & opportunities, holding power to account & driving meaningful change. Democratic systems must evolve, of course, to remain fit for purpose but they are, nevertheless, essentially sound systems as I said in this building 50 years ago. When underpinned by wisdom & good faith, democracy has, I believe, an extraordinary capacity for innovation, comprise & adaptability as well as stability. Moreover, strong parliamentary systems like the one we celebrate on this special occasion are fundamental to the democracies that serve today’s diverse societies & are even more vital given the ever changing natural, social, economic & technological environment. Since I was here, uh, in 1974 & incidentally, I first came to Australia nearly, nearly 60 years ago, which is slightly worrying, this place & the people within it have continued to uphold strong representative traditions.
To everyone who has been a part of this, I can only offer my warmest congratulations & in the spirit of marking the passage of time, it is my great pleasure to present a small gift to the Parliament. It, t, is, in fact, an hourglass – a speechtimer – to sit in the chamber & bear witness to the Legislative Council’s next chapter so with the sounds of time encouraging brevity, it just remains for me to say what a great joy it is to come to Australia for the 1st time as sovereign & to renew a love of this country and its people, which I have cherished for so long so thank you, thank you ladies & gentlemen for making me feel so very welcome.
Thank you.
Charles R
After the speech, he unveiled an hourglass to be used to time speeches in the Legislative Council, which he turned upside for the 1st time. It was handmade by the Goldsmiths’ Centre in London, with a cedar base using wood from the King’s Highgrove home. The NSW Chief Justice, Andrew Bell was in attendance at this reception. The King will shortly leave the New South Wales Parliament House to return to Admiralty House for a couple of audiences.
11:50am: King Charles has arrived at the New South Wales Parliament House, where a crowd of several hundred had gathered outside. The King was met by NSW Governor, Margaret Beazley, the Legislative Council President, Ben Franklin, the Legislative Assembly Speaker, Greg Piper & 2 senior parliamentary officials. They walked down a red carpet to the stairs they take them inside to the reception celebrating the Legislative Council’s bicentenary.
11:30am: King Charles & Queen Camilla have left Saint Thomas’ Anglican Church in North Sydney & in a surprise, met the cheering crowd of hundreds waving the Union Jack before hopping in different cars with King Charles heading to the New South Wales Parliament House for a reception celebrating the bicentenary of the Legislative Council. Queen Camilla’s destination is Admiralty House to rest for the remainder of the day.
10:35am: King Charles & Queen Camilla have arrived at Saint Thomas’ Anglican Church in North Sydney to a cheering crowd of hundreds waving the Union Jack. They met children from a local Sunday school, who they shook hands with & where King Charles was presented with a rugby ball, cricket ball & stuffed koala, for his grandchildren Princes George and Louis & Princess Charlotte.
King Charles & Queen Camilla meet Sunday School students Photograph: The Sydney Morning Herald/Edwina Pickles
They then entered the Church for a service, finishing at 11:30am, when North Sydney residents can see them.
10:25am: King Charles & Queen Camilla have left Admiralty House, where Royal fans had been waiting outside its gates, in a motorcade with police escort for Saint Thomas’ Anglican Church in North Sydney.
8:10am: Welcome to Day 3 of our live blog! After leaving Saint Thomas’ Anglican Church in a few hours’ time, King Charles will head to the New South Wales (NSW) Parliament House’s Legislative Council at 11:50am to celebrate its bicentenary with a gift & meet NSW Premier Chris Minns. At 12:20pm, he will then head back to Admiralty House to hold audiences with the Australian Governor-General, Sam Mostyn & the NSW Governor, Margaret Beazley.
Later this week, he will also attend & participate in an Indigenous smoking ceremony with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander communities, becoming the 1st reigning Australian monarch to participate in one.
19th Of October
8:30pm: King Charles & Queen Camilla have remained at Admiralty House over the past 3 hours meaning they have not attended The Everest horse racing meeting, preferring a full rest day, especially the Monarch from jet lag accumulated from his trip from London. Queen Camilla came from Singapore, a shorter but still lengthy flight – about 8 hours long.
That concludes our live blog for this 2nd day of the Royal visits. We will be back at 11:30am for their appearance leaving Saint Thomas’ Anglican Church in North Sydney.
5:45pm: King Charles & Queen Camilla have remained at Admiralty House over the past hour meaning the Monarch has missed a horse race held at Royal Randwick Racecourse in his honour. It is now highly likely, though not unexpected, that King Charles & Queen Camilla will make the most of their rest day to, understandably, rest, especially the Monarch from jet lag, due to his recent trip from London on the other side of the world to Sydney via Singapore where his wife joined him.
4:45pm: The New South Wales Government has announced that North Sydney residents will be able to see King Charles & Queen Camilla leave a service at Saint Thomas’ Anglican Church at 11.30am tomorrow (Sunday 20 October).
Those attending cannot bring umbrellas, banners, bulky equipment, large cameras or bags. Saint Thomas’ Anglican Church is on the corner of McLaren & Church Streets. Members of the North Sydney community must arrive at McLaren Street to access the Church lawns no later than 11am to avoid road closures & for possible security screening. Space around the Church is very limited & amenities are limited and publicly minimal.
Meanwhile, King Charles & Queen Camilla have remained at Admiralty House for the past hour including missing The Everest horse race at Royal Randwick Racecourse. The King Charles III Stakes horse race is at 5:35pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time.
3:45pm: The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has announced that the Australian Governor-General & Commander-In-Chief Of The ADF, Sam Mostyn, has appointed King Charles the honorary ranks of:
Field Marshal of the Australian Army,
Marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force &
Admiral Of The Fleet of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN),
Charles has held the title of Colonel-In-Chief of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps since 1977.
The Governor-General Of Australia & Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Defence Force, Her Excellency The Honourable Sam Mostyn, Companion of the Order Of Australia (AC), said His Majesty’s appointments were an important symbol of connection, stability & strength:
Australians share His Majesty’s pride in the ADF, its sailors, soldiers and aviators & the loved ones who support them.
Her Excellency The Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, The Governor-General Of Australia & Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Defence Force
Chief of the Australian Defence Force, Admiral David Johnston, AC, RAN, said His Majesty’s honorary ranks reflected Australia’s close relationship with reigning monarchs:
The Sovereign serves as an example of service & His Majesty’s appointments are symbolic of the Royal Family’s longstanding dedication and relationship with the nation.
Since Australian Federation in 1901, Australia’s military forces have been custodians of great traditions connected to the Commonwealth & 123 years later, the Australian Defence Force is proud to continue this legacy.
Admiral David Johnston AC, RAN, Chief of the Australian Defence Force
Meanwhile, King Charles & Queen Camilla have remained at Admiralty House in the past 45 minutes.
3:10pm: The Australian Defence Force has announced Tuesday’s Fleet Review flypasts will begin at 5:07pm with MH-60R ‘Romeo’ and EC-135 helicopters from the Royal Australian Navy & UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters from the Australian Army. The Fleet Review will conclude at 5:20pm with an F/A-18F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler and 2 F-35A Lightning II jets from the Royal Australian Air Force. All aircraft will fly from HMAS Watson naval base on South Head to Admiralty House on Kirribilli Point, all on Sydney Harbour.
A rehearsal of the jet flypasts will also occur at 1:20pm on Monday the 21st of October.
Meanwhile, King Charles & Queen Camilla have remained at Admiralty House so far today.
9:10am: Welcome to Day 2 of our live blog! King Charles & Queen Camilla, through The Royal Family’s X account posted the following, with the 1st sentence referring to the Sydney Opera House projection show:
Thank you for the special welcome, Australia!
It was a pleasure to meet Prime Minister Anthony Albanese & Ms Haydon, upon arrival in Sydney.
Charles R & Camilla R
12:05am: The Sydney Opera House projections just concluded. 55 minutes less than we were promised due to the weather and a cruise ship. No doubt the private meeting at Admiralty House between King Charles, Queen Camilla, the Australian Prime Minister & his partner has concluded thus ending the 1st day of the Royal couple’s visits to Sydney. Later today, the Royal couple will have a rest day but the question on many pundits’ lips is will they rest at the horse races? As at 5:35pm is the King Charles III Stakes\at Royal Randwick Racecourse.
If they visit, we will cover it on our live blog though it will be an unofficial event if they do visit. That concludes our live blog for this 1st day of the Royal visits. Until next time!
King Charles, Queen Camilla, the Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese & his partner, Jodie Haydon in Admiralty House. Photograph: The Royal Family
18th Of October
9:10pm: Here at Dawes Point, spectators and tourists in their hundreds have their cameras pointing to the Sydney Opera House. International media from the United Kingdom and Japan are documenting the historic projection show & interviewing attendees. 2 low-flying helicopters, most likely New South Wales Police, appear above, indicating King Charles & Queen Camilla are nearing Admiralty House with the Australian Prime Minister and his partner. They crossed the Sydney Harbour Bridge at this time.
9pm: At the Sydney Opera House, the storms had past & Queen Elizabeth departed, allowing the Sydney Opera House projections to begin! The 4-minute loop, in biographical format, showcased photos from the life of Charles (excluding Diana, Princess Of Wales) from his trips to Australia with the most recent images including Camilla when she accompanied him to Australia as Duke & Duchess Of Cornwall. The show concludes with the official Australian photo portrait of King Charles III & Queen Camilla.
8:45pm: BREAKING NEWS King Charles has became the 2nd Australian Monarch to step on Australian soil, following his mother Queen Elizabeth II who did the same thing, though for the 1st time, in 1954. Queen Camilla was by his side, both wearing what they wore in their official Australian photo portraits minus regalia though Queen Camilla did wear the Australian Wattle Brooch. The King wore a different jacket than the one in the portrait. They were greeted by the Australian Governor-General & Prime Minister as well as the NSW Governor & Premier amongst other dignitaries, their spouses & in the NSW Premier’s case, his mum. 2 North Adelaide residents, a 18-year-old sister & 12-year-old brother, Charlotte & Ky Exelby, the latter diagnosed with a serious blood disorder with the sister providing a bone marrow transplant to her brother, presented Queen Camilla with a bouquet of posies & talked with King Charles, fulfilling a lifelong wish thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
The weather’s bad but it reminds me of England.
Charles R
The Royal couple then hopped into a car and left Sydney Airport with escort in tow, heading for Admiralty House on the shores of Sydney Harbour for a private meeting with the Australian Prime Minister & a spot of tea.
8:30pm: King Charles III & Queen Camilla have landed at Sydney Airport as the Sydney Opera House Projections have been delayed for unknown reasons. It could be to wait for King Charles to shortly make his 1st steps on Australian soil or more likely due to the storm front or a delayed Cunard cruise ship, ironically, the Queen Elizabeth, that was due to leave the Overseas Passenger Terminal, a known location for the Opera House projectors, at 7pm, over 1.5 hours ago, delayed probably due to the storms.
7:05pm: Welcome to this live blog of Their Majesties King Charles III & Queen Camilla’s visits to Sydney.
In the last few minutes, their Royal Australian Air Force Boeing 737 MAX 8 BBJ (‘ASY352’) business jet entered New South Wales airspace over the northwest corner of the state! They are due to touchdown at Sydney Airport at 8pm with the Sydney Opera House projection show of their previous visits to Australia beginning 15 minutes prior.
The New South Wales (NSW) Police Force today begun Operation Royal Visit, which will run until Wednesday the 23rd of October.
Planning for the Operation has taken place over many months with the NSW Police Force working with partner agencies, including the United Kingdom Royal & Specialist Protection Team, to provide an operational response.
As part of the Operation, a number of traffic diversions and road closures will be implemented.
Police will be deployed throughout the Operation to manage the movement of King Charles III and Queen Camilla between engagements & to provide a safe environment for other visiting dignitaries and the community.
In Kirribilli, a special event clearway will be operation from 5pm today until Wednesday at the southern end of Carabella Street & the eastern end of Kirribilli Avenue.
The New South Wales (NSW) Premier, Chris Minns, today confirmed the Sydney Opera House sails will feature a projection show containing photographs of previous visits by Charles & Camilla to Australia on Friday night (18 October).
The projection show will begin at 8pm, to coincide with the beginning of their Spring tour to Australia and Samoa with their arrival in Sydney & will run on a 4-minute loop. It is likely only the western sails will be utilised & will finish sometime around Midnight, as is the case for the vast majority of Sydney Opera House projection shows.
The photos are curated by the NSW Government & reflect the diverse ways in which Charles & Camilla have engaged with & celebrated Australia over the years.
This will be the 2nd time the Sydney Opera House will be illuminated in recognition of a Royal event, though the 1st to be recognised as a ‘Sydney Spectacular‘. It was previously illuminated with an image of Queen Elizabeth II when she passed away in 2022. The Sydney Harbour Bridge was previously illuminated purple for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee a few months prior. Buildings in the central business district (CBD) were also illuminated on that occasion as well as during her iconic 1954 tour, when she became the 1st Monarch to step onto Australian soil. One of the very 1st Sydney Spectaculars, Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, also saw CBD buildings illuminated in 1887.
We are lighting up the Sydney Opera House to warmly welcome The King & Queen to our beautiful harbour city.
The photo projection on the Opera House sails celebrates a historic moment – The King’s first visit to NSW as Sovereign & is a fitting tribute.
I’ve made the point previously in relation to the Opera House, when it comes to events that are taking place in Sydney that will be our primary objective.
I also invite everyone to the Opera House forecourt next Tuesday afternoon to join The King & Queen.
The King is coming to Sydney & we obviously want to make sure he is warmly welcomed & that is what we’re going to do.
NSW is looking forward to hosting this milestone visit & I encourage everyone to make the most of it.
Chris Minns, NSW Premier
In unofficial event news, (that is not officially connected with the Fleet Review) the Australian Monarchist League, who welcomed the above news, will have a large team of volunteers who will be handing out 6000 flags at most places that King Charles & Queen Camilla will visit in Sydney.
This (Welcoming the above news) is particularly following his (NSW Premier, Chris Minns) mean-spirited cancellation of the lighting of the Opera House sails for His Majesty’s coronation in May 2023 & his open admission this week that he is a republican.
We are an Australian organisation without any ties to any other Monarchist organisation & this is the sort of positive thing (handing out flags) we have always done over the past 25 years for all tours by our former Queen, Elizabeth II & Charles, as Prince Of Wales and now Charles III as King Of Australia.
Phillip Benwell, Australian Monarchist League National Chair
The Australian Republic Movement responded to the comment above:
As we reflect on events like the Opera House being illuminated with images from past royal visits, we’re reminded of Australia’s historical ties to the monarchy. Lighting up the Opera House for King Charles may be a respectful nod to tradition, but it also underscores the growing belief that our national symbols should reflect our identity & aspirations. The Opera House, a powerful emblem of our creativity & independence, deserves to celebrate a future where an Australian head of state—chosen by & for Australians—is the figure we honour.
While the Royal tour will undoubtedly attract those who admire the monarchy’s celebrity allure, we know that many Australians are ready to look beyond this. For those who enjoy the spectacle, it’s the 1st opportunity in over a decade to see a reigning Australian monarch. Yet, for a growing number, it’s time to envision a new chapter for Australia — one where we are represented by 1 of our own as head of state.
Nathan Hansford, Australian Republic Movement Co-Chair
The Australian Government has confirmed that the historic review of the Royal Australian Navy fleet on Sydney Harbour by King Charles & Queen Camilla will be held at 4:50pm on Tuesday the 22nd of October.
The Admiral Hudson Photograph: Royal Australian Navy
Their Majesties will leave from Man O’ War Steps on board the Admiral Hudson to review 5 ships of the Royal Australian Navy fleet, a significantly slimmed down fleet review. These ships, anchored in Sydney Harbour, are:
HMAS Arunta
HMAS Gascoyne
HMAS Hobart
HMAS Warramunga
HMAS Yarra
HMAS stands for His Majesty’s Australian Ship.
Their Majesties will be accompanied by the Australian Governor-General, Sam Mostyn, Chief of the Australian Defence Force, Admiral David Johnston & the Chief of The Royal Australian Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond.
As expected there will be no major pyrotechnic display, which is usually traditional for these events, particularly since the mid-1980’s. A 21-gun salute has not been confirmed yet.
A flypast by Australian Defence Aircraft has been announced to occur during the Monarchical Fleet Review. The fleet review will likely run less than half an hour. Vantage points for the Monarchical Fleet Review are:
Sydney Opera House
Royal Botanic Gardens
Mrs Macquarie’s Point
Their Majesties will also conduct a meet & greet at the Sydney Opera House forecourt, most likely the southern one, at 4:20pm. While gifts are not encouraged, in line with the Buckingham Palace gift policy, non-commercial gifts and flowers may be facilitated for offering to Their Majesties, though they may be subject to a security screening. Their Majesties will be accompanied by the New South Wales (NSW) Premier, Chris Minns & his wife,
There will be road closures in place, particularly from 3:50pm, so check Live Traffic NSW & NSW Police Force websites.
Gates to the Sydney Opera House will open from 3pm & portable toilets will be available. There will be a designated accessible viewing area reserved for people with a disability and/or accessibility needs. To register your interest, e-mail accessibility@premiersdepartment.nsw.gov.au as there are limited spots!
Vantage points for this historic fleet review will quickly go from around 3pm on the day with large crowds expected due to the edition’s historical significance. You may be subjected to a security screening at the event (definitely at the Sydney Opera House) & large bags, banners or umbrellas are not allowed at the event. If rain is forecast, please wear a raincoat or poncho.
Due to the road closures & extremely limited parking, it is recommended to travel to the Monarchical Fleet Review by public transport. You should plan ahead & leave the car at home, if possible.
The fleet review is still the only public event during Their Majesties’ visit in Sydney.
Non-public events include a community barbeque which has been today announced to be hosted by the NSW Premier in Parramatta with support from the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW. Invited guests from Western Sydney have been announced today to include community leaders and organisations, volunteers & individuals who have excelled in their field.
It was also announced today that the King will, at some point in Sydney, meet the current Australians Of The Year, Professors Georgina Long AO & Richard Scolyer AO, to hear about their world-leading cancer research and treatment. Simultaneous to this, Queen Camilla will also visit a Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition workshop & meet students and other attendees of the workshop series. The Queen will also meet esteemed authors at the workshop.
AO (Officer of the Order of Australia)
I invite everyone to head to the Sydney Opera House Forecourt on the afternoon of Tuesday 22 October to attend this special event.
I look forward to hosting Their Majesties at the Western Sydney community barbeque to showcase this state’s rich culinary & cultural diversity, where they will also meet with a range of community organisations & outstanding Australians.
It is wonderful His Majesty is taking the time to meet with current Australians of the Year (also NSW Australians of the Year 2024), Professor Georgina Long AO & Professor Richard Scolyer AO.
Chris Minns, NSW Premier
What Is A ‘Fleet Review’?
A fleet review is essentially an inspection of a navy. The reviewer will be stationed on a ‘flagship’ – the main vessel used to review the fleet. For this fleet review, it will be the Admiral Hudson. Being the flagship does not indicate that it is the most important ship in the Royal Australian Navy fleet. The flagship will travel around Sydney Harbour to inspect the 5 anchored Royal Australian Navy vessels & for their sailors to salute and cheer the Monarch and Queen consort. The journey this fleet review will take will begin at Man O’ Steps & will likely be limited to a journey around Farm Cove. Its ultimate destination is unknown.
As of 28th October 2023, Sydney Spectaculars is considering the Rugby World Cups 2027-29 as an ‘extraordinary’ Sydney Spectacular. This follows the removal of the status on the 1st day of competition of the 2023 men’s tournament, following the lack of activation during the FIFA Women’s World Cup: Australia & New Zealand 2023.
The reasoning behind the returning of the status is as follows:
A 3-minute fireworks display, using 2 barges & the upper arch and catwalk of the Sydney Harbour Bridge as well as a Bridge Effect featured after the Rugby World Cup 2003 – Australia Final.
In 2019, World Rugby decided that the words ‘Rugby World Cup’ would now refer to both the men’s and women’s editions.
Sydney is the likely host city of the Opening Match & Final of the Rugby World Cups – Australia 2027-29.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023 was removed as an ‘extraordinary’ Sydney Spectacular on 5th April 2023 & despite having 13 Sydney landmarks, including the western sails of the Sydney Opera House, lit up in green & gold (except in 1 case where there was no green on the night of a Round Of 16, Quarter-Final, Semi-Final, 3rd Place Playoff or Final match involving the Matildas, this was insufficient for the FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023 to be returned as an ‘extraordinary’ Sydney Spectacular, particularly as it had no post-final Sydney Harbour fireworks display. The full reasons are detailed here.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023 had an event attendance of 79,000 per event day.
The Rugby World Cup – France 2023 (men’s edition) had an event attendance of 90,000 per event day.
As the attendance of the men’s tournament of the Rugby World Cup is now higher than the FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023, Sydney Spectaculars is of the opinion that, as of 28th October 2023, the Rugby World Cups – Australia 2027-29 should have its status as an ‘extraordinary’ Sydney Spectacular returned.
This is a major boost for Sydney’s event industry, culture & night-time economy. We will review this decision again after the Rugby World Cup – England 2025 (women’s edition).
The decision to expand Rugby World Cup 2027 to 24 teams is logical & the right thing to do. With its love of sport & major events, Australia is the perfect place to do just that.
Sir Bill Beaumont, World Rugby Chairman
After the Pool Stage, the top 2 teams in each pool plus the best 4 3rd-place teams will qualify for a new a Round Of 16 prior to the Quarter-Finals.
This is a fantastic outcome for the Local Operating Company as we prepare to transfer from future host to next host of the men’s Rugby World Cup. Importantly, the decision made by the Council today will enable the Local Operating Company to move ahead with certainty & finalise the hosting details for the Rugby World Cup in Australia. We look forward to working in partnership with the Australian Government, our State/Territory governments & Rugby Australia over the coming months to do so.
Sir Rod Eddington, Rugby World Cups 2027-29 Board Independent Chairman
The Rugby World Cups – Australia 2027-29 will begin on Friday the 1st of October 2027 with the men’s tournament, with its final on Saturday the 13th of November 2027. The women’s tournament will be held in 2029 with dates yet to be determined but are likely to be held roughly in the same months as the preceding men’s tournament.
Today’s decision is the culmination of a process that began in May 2022 with a new Rugby World Cup hosting model, greater collaboration on reform of the international calendar & recognition that the sport needed to evolve.
A reduced pool phase with a more regular cadence of matches & the introduction of a Round Of 16 makes for a compelling & competitive pool phase where every match counts. To be able to achieve this new format in a reduced window while preserving important player welfare considerations is a huge step forward for the game & great for fans and players.
Our analysis reveals what people thought was the case in 2024 – the Vivid Light Walk was not as entertaining as the previous year. The below graphs are designed to follow the Light Walk, from Bennelong Point to Railway Square. The lower the line, the less entertaining the Light Walk was.
As you can see 2023’s line is notably higher & fluctuating more than 2024’s line, this signals an entertaining Light Walk with something new always around the corner, particularly at the Museum Of Contemporary Art, the Sydney Harbour Bridge south-eastern pylon, Tumblalong Park, the Powerhouse Museum & Central Railway Station. Whilst Barangaroo Reserve was a significant rise in attention-grabbing, the line notably dips at the Barangaroo development just south of the Reserve & around the western and eastern shores of Cockle Bay in Darling Harbour – the only parts deemed not entertaining, though Cockle Bay’s dip is due to the best vantage point for the Bay’s water light show being on the southern shore.
2024’s line though is nearly flat with the Light Walk only entertaining around West Circular Quay & around Tumblalong Park and The Goods Line. Again, take into account Cockle Bay’s water light show. This time the line only significant peaks at The Goods Line. It seems like The Goods Line has been a target for this year’s edition particularly as the popular Fire Kitchen of Vivid Food (The Fire Kitchen is not part of the Vivid Light Walk) was relocated there after making its debut at Barangaroo Reserve in 2023.
Vivid‘s planning relies on interest from the artists. Expressions of interest (EOI) are advertised in August the year prior, closing around October. If there are less EOIs, there will be less installations – nothing Vivid Sydney can do about that. In 2023, there were 54 Light Walk installations. This year, there was 32 Light Walk installations – a decline of 40%.
The lack of activation in Walsh Bay & Barangaroo Reserve could have spread crowds out but given the line is so low, those areas may have looked like any ordinary night for spectators & so they turned around and headed back into Circular Quay, exacerbating the crowds waiting &/or watching the drone show.
I will point out that Vivid may have made another critical error here. Whilst last year’s drone shows were obviously extremely popular, the organisers may have only received 1 EOI for a drone show & for 3 nights only due to availability. They may then have accepted it as ‘better than no drone show’ and forgot to take into account the concept’s popularity due to the well-used EOI process. This was partly how the 2016 near-crowd crush occurred.
A counterargument to that is that the event’s director, Gill Minervini, personally creatively directed the drone show. She also creatively directed the extremely popular 2023 drone shows called Written In The Stars so she will have been well aware of their popularity & thus could have insisted on a requirement for more drone shows or none at all.
Those near-crowd crushes may have had an effect on the attendance as it occurred on the busiest day of the event. The next 2 days were expected to be the 2nd & 3rd busiest days of the event. The event’s final night was also expected to be a significant night with the final drone show but that drone show got cancelled. Whilst Circular Quay reached capacity the night after the near-crowd crushes, this might not have been enough to indicate usual attendance as we predicted a quarter of a million people to attend & Circular Quay’s capacity is around 70,000 so we can only be sure that 70,000 people attended the 2nd scheduled drone show unlike the previous night, where we are sure a quarter of a million people showed up, capacity wasn’t enforced, resulting in 94,000 affected by the near-crowd crushes.
All this has resulted in a first for Vivid Sydney – a decline in attendance & not just a small decline. It was 900,000 people less at 2.42 million. This after breaking the record last edition to 3.3 million. Whilst we speculated Vivid‘s approaching peak in 2017, the COVID-19 pandemic, the subsequent 2 consecutive cancellations, prolonged the time before Vivid reached its peak. Last year’s drone shows resulted in an extraordinarily high record attendance, which puts to question why organisers didn’t see how 2024’s drone shows wouldn’t be as popular.
Whilst Vivid Sydney‘s creativity is ensured, its logistics and engagement (and not just on social media) needs improving.
Sydney Spectaculars 
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