On November 24, Zan Rowe revealed to television website, TV Tonight, that Jessica Mauboy, King Stingray & Confidence Man will headline the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)’s New Year’s Eve (NYE) concert.
She & Charlie Pickering were also confirmed to be the hosts of the ABC’s broadcast of Sydney NYE2023.
It is an incredible lineup. I’m so excited to tell you that we have, from Brisbane, the incredible electric pop duo ‘Confidence Man’. This is a show that has to be seen to be the believed. ‘King Stingray’, who are one of the best bands in Australia right now from northeast Arnhem Land – phenomenal live & the powerhouse, the legend, the myth, the magic that is Jessica Mauboy is going to be bringing in the New Year as well.
For the 1st time, Sydney New Year’s Eve volunteers will receive new souvenir crossbody belt/pouches themed to the event.
This in addition to the cap, service statement, appreciation certificate & reserved vantage point for the Midnight Fireworks that volunteers already receive.
Applications for Sydney NYE2023 volunteering closed on November 18.
Volunteering for Sydney NYE2024 is expected to open in October next year.
In October, the City Of Sydney updated their NYE website to include a webpage on sustainability for the 1st time in 8 years, following questions at an August 14 Corporate, Finance, Properties & Tenders Committee meeting asked by Greens Councillor, then-Deputy Lord Mayor, Sylvie Ellsmore.
The City Of Sydney had a webpage on sustainability on their NYE website between NYE2007 & NYE2014. Since NYE2015, the website has been slimmed down to the bare essentials as seen by the recent plain white update in early September, seemingly matching the decline in the event’s creativity since NYE2015 too. The sustainability webpage was one of the first to be removed from the website but it seems only now, 8 years later, that the City has realised this, begging the question: how did the removal of such an important webpage for the City Of Sydney not get noticed by them for 8 years?
Are we publicly going to be reporting on, um, the impact – the environmental impact (of Sydney NYE pyro) that’s happening & where would that be reported? What report might that end up in? Do we need to move something to amend our Green Report, for example, to say ‘We know this is important. We’ve heard you. We’re tracking this. This is where we’ll report it’?
City Of Sydney Greens Councillor, Slyvie Ellesmore, Deputy Lord Mayor 19/09/2022-18/09/2023
Through you, Lord Mayor, um, we might just have that on notice, Emma (Rigney – City Of Sydney Director Of City Life) & make sure ’cause I think obviously the Green Report is probably the best place to put it, um, however, I’m, now I’m just going on memory here but we’ve always, um, I think on our website though had the, um, offset statements for any offsets that we buy – those sorts of things – so let’s just check the website, what we already put up. I’m pretty sure we do because I’ve often asked about that, um, & make sure that that is, continues because that’s where people can go & check that the claims we make are validated uh, in, in, you know, in, in documentation. Thank you.
Monica Barone, City Of Sydney Chief Executive Officer
It is unclear if Monica Barone is referring to the main Sydney NYE website or the City Of Sydney website.
So the fact that we’re being carbon neutral since 2007 & that, um, the Foti family is a family business that’s also carbon neutral? Um, I, I mean we’ve, we’ve been very conscious of this from the very beginning & have always taken great steps to minimise the environmental impact, um, as much as it’ s possible…when you’re setting off… all those fireworks…across the City.
Clover Moore, City Of Sydney Lord Mayor
Clover Moore became Lord Mayor of Sydney in 2004 while the City Of Sydney have hosted the event since 1996, producing it in-house since 2000. The event & the City Of Sydney have been carbon neutral since 2007.
Later, at the 21 August Council meeting, the Council unanimously resolved, on the then-Deputy Lord Mayor’s motion, that “the CEO be requested to track future Sydney NYE event emissions though the City’s Green Report”.
Regardless of which website Monica Barone referred to in the August 14 Corporate, Finance, Properties & Tenders Committee meeting, it is clear there was a review of the Sydney NYE website between early September & October as the sustainability webpage was not there when the website update was released in early September. The fact the webpage has not been there in 8 years makes the addition of the webpage after the conversation in the August 14 Corporate, Finance, Properties & Tenders Committee seem more than coincidental. It clearly was finally noticed as missing & a new webpage was prepared as soon as possible, particularly well in advance of the early December event media launch & was published in October.
Following the 21 August Council Resolution, the City Of Sydney has also since added a paragraph on NYE in the Green Report, which was updated last month in its latest annual edition, available on the City Of Sydney website. Below is the relevant paragraph:
Fireworks & light displays create carbon emissions, which we are directly responsible for. These emissions are included in our annual carbon inventory & have been offset since NYE2006. Between 2007 & 2015, we developed detailed annual emissions inventories for the whole NYE event. These showed that year-on-year event emissions did not change significantly & contribute a small share of our total operational emissions. 2015 NYE event emissions were 552 tonnes of which the combustion of fireworks made up only 4.8 tonnes, or 0.9% of the event emissions. Since 2016, we have reported & offset 662 tonnes of emissions each year for the NYE event as part of our ongoing organisational carbon neutral certification. This includes a 20% buffer above 2015 emissions, to ensure that emissions are not under reported.
Updated: The article originally had the Calling Country Live Performance happening after the Calling Country Fireworks, as per previous years. This year, the Calling Country Live Performance happens 3minutes before the Calling Country Fireworks at 9pm. The Welcome To Country also, as a result, happens 3 minutes earlier than originally stated.
An appearance from the world’s favourite Heelers, Bluey and Bingo, will feature on the Sydney Harbour Bridge pylon projections at 8:50pm on the night of Sydney NYE2023.
It will be known as The Bluey & Bingo Moment, celebrating the iconic Australian preschool children’s animated television series that the characters star in, Bluey, that has garnered fans worldwide & has been deemed one of the best television shows ever made. It recently celebrated its 5th anniversary after 3 seasons.
The City Of Sydney are also advising guests that City restaurants & private functions require a booking & therefore, you need to have a ticket or reservation before you come into the City.
Sydney NYE2023 Media Launch Photograph: City Of Sydney/Abril Felman
At 7pm on NYE, the Fire Tug returns as the opening act after an absence of 4 editions (last appearance being NYE2018 – The Pulse Of Sydney)
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) television/Internet broadcast will begin after at 8:30pm, live from the Northern Broadwalk of the Sydney Opera House & will be co-hosted by Triple J Breakfast host, Concetta Caristo. It will begin with the televised video version of Welcome To Country (more details below) followed by a preview of season 2 of Muster Dogs & a segment on how the Sydney NYE2023 fireworks displays are put together.
Throughout the night, both the Sydney Harbour Bridge light & pylon projections show will also be themed to the revolutions of the Sun & the Moon. The Sydney Harbour Bridge light show will also be artificial intelligence (AI)-created for the 1st time with the help of Sydney NYE2023 Lighting Director, Ziggy Ziegler.
This year is so exciting. It’s all about the sun this year. It’s based around revolving around for a whole year. It’s, it’s warmth. It’s colour. It’s, uh, the essence of life itself in Sydney.
We’re moving forward this year. Uh, it’s got a very warm feel as opposed to just a party feel, it really is about life this year.
Well apart from the thousands of kilometres of cable & lights that we always use, we are adding in a AI component this year so we are going to feed AI streams directly into the lights this year.
Literally, the entire world looks at Sydney first & it’s always just fun. Sydney is a fun city.
Ziggy Ziegler, Sydney NYE2023 Lighting Director
At 8:54pm, a Welcome To Country pylon projection show will begin of an Elder and child celebrating the past, present & future of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people & will showcase how stories handed down from generation to generation keep Indigenous culture and identity alive. The pylon projections are designed by R/GA (supported by VANDAL) using illustrations by Noongar artist, Janelle Burger.
Noongar Artist, Janelle Burger Photograph: Janelle Burger/City Of Sydney
In creating designs, she draws on elements of pop culture while developing her work in Paris, France. Her images have appeared in publications like InStyle magazine, Frankie & Nala.
Janelle Burger’s illustrations for the pylons include iconic First Nations figures including Cathy Freeman, Anita Heiss, Adam Goodes, Patty Mills & BARKAA.
The Welcome To Country will be televised in video form at 8:30pm – 24 minutes prior.
When creating these images for the Sydney New Year’s Eve pylons, I tried to capture the essence & spirit of the First Nations peoples. To integrate the timeless connection to the land into the very fabric of the images, this is a tribute to warriors whose footsteps echoed through time, leaving an indelible mark on Australia’s history.
Janelle Burger, Noongar Artist
Welcome To/Calling Country Pylon Projection Artist Impressions Image: R/GA, We Are Warriors & City Of Sydney
At 8:57pm, the Calling Country Live Performance will begin & this year, along with the following fireworks display, will be themed Buried Country. It will feature 3-man hip hop supergroup 3% performing their debut single, Our People, which uses the instrumentation & chorus from The Presets‘ iconic pro-refugee electronic track of similar name – My People – the only time The Presets have let their iconic work be used for sampling. The group name 3% refers to the proportion of the Australian population that is Indigenous:
3% Photograph: 3%/City Of Sydney
The Calling Country Live Performance will also feature Woorabinda artist Jada Weazel, the Muggera dancers & other special guests as well as a Sydney Harbour Bridge pylon projection of an Elder from the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council before, once again, concluding with an Aboriginal message stick being presented to the City Of Sydney Lord Mayor by an Elder as a gift to the people. It will acknowledge Sydney for recognising the lands & the First Peoples of the City.
At 9pm, the Calling Country Fireworks begin & will tell the story of Pemulwuy, one of the most famous Aboriginal resistance fighters in the colonial era & a Bidjigal man. The Calling Country projections will celebrate his spirit of resistance and resilience, revealing the warrior spirit within all First Nations people & reinforces the message that you are always on Country even in the big cities’ urban landscapes.
The soundtrack of the Calling Country Fireworks are by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Award winner, Grammy nominee & Bunuba musician, 18YOMAN (Vincent Goodyear) & rapper Nooky, who forms a 1/3rd of 3%.
Nooky is also a vital voice in the Australian music landscape, being also a Yuin artist & Triple J Blak Out radio host. He’s known for his no-holds-barred, hyperactive rap brand & has worked with brands from G-Shock to Geedup while also making beats & producing. He is also the founder & creative director of We Are Warriors, the creative directors of Calling Country.
18YOMAN specialises in bespoke instrumentals and intricate sound beds & combined with Nooky, their fireworks soundtrack brings an anthemic hip hop sound to the Harbour with elements of traditional First Nations audio weaved throughout.
At the end of the year we’ve had, we want to let our people know they’re loved, they’re seen & they’re heard. That they are Warriors. It’s time to reflect on & awaken the stories of this country that have been buried by the history we didn’t write.
We’re going to share stories of great warriors like Pemulwuy & warriors of the past, present and today. We are going all out-projecting images onto the Harbour Bridge putting Blak excellence on full display for the world to see.
From the visuals to the music, we pursued to reflect what a calling to country is. We are calling to our old people for strength in this moment & to also celebrate their achievements and the knowledge they have passed down. I hope to create a memorable event for everyone to take part in. This platform allows us to share our truth, our stories, our voice with the world.
Nooky, ‘We Are Warriors’ Founder & Creative Director
Nooky & City Of Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore
This year’s talented artists have created music, visual art & performances that both champion Indigenous culture and storytelling & highlight the challenges and resilience of both young & old First Nations peoples.
Clover Moore, City Of Sydney Lord Mayor
After Calling Country, the ABC concert begins. It will also be broadcast on local ABC Radio nationwide so you can listen down on the Harbour (702 AM) as the Sydney Harbour Bridge light show is synced to the music. Artists include:
Genesis Owusu,
Angie McMahon,
Mark Seymour,
Grentperez &
the NYE queen, Casey Donovan!
NYE is one of our favourite nights of the year! We love working with our partners City of Sydney on our show-stopping NYE broadcast. Always a night to remember, we can’t wait to celebrate with people all around the world showcasing a wonderful night of Australian music, entertainment & of course, fireworks.
Kath Earle, ABC Arts, Music & Events Head
At 10pm, the official charity partner, the National Breast Cancer Foundation, will have a Pink Moment, which would feature the Sydney Harbour Bridge light & pylon projection show.
The Australian not-for-profit organisation is represented by the pink ribbon & raises money to fund world-class research towards its vision of 0 deaths from breast cancer. Research that saves lives through a better understanding of how to prevent and detect breast cancer early, stop progression and recurrence of breast cancer & effectively treat hard-to-treat and metastatic breast cancers.
The National Breast Cancer Foundation is thrilled to be the official charity partner of the City of Sydney’s 2023 Sydney New Year’s Eve.
We are excited to see Sydney light up pink to support the work of the foundation – funding world-class research towards our vision of 0 deaths from breast cancer.
We hope all Australians can join us to GLO PINK this New Year’s Eve to support the 57 Australians diagnosed with breast cancer each & every day. It’s thanks to partnerships like this & the support of the Australian public that we can continue to fund research that will change the future for all those diagnosed with breast cancer.
Associate Professor Cleola Anderiesz, National Breast Cancer Foundation Chief Executive Officer
Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylon Projection Renders Image: VANDAL/City Of Sydney
At 11pm, there will be a Sydney Opera House 50th Anniversary Moment, using the Sydney Harbour Bridge pylon projections which will conclude with new AI-created animated segment of doughnuts, balloons, flowers, galaxies & kaleidoscopes with help from Sydney NYE Harbour Bridge Pylon Projection Designers, VANDAL.
It will be the 1st time that artificial intelligence has been apart of the artworks. Really fun things like balloons & doughnuts & galaxies & kaleidoscopes.
New Year’s Eve is special because there really is the experts in every area from fireworks to lighting to event planning to of course, our artwork & it’s really great to have a collaboration for something that’s actually a celebration of Sydney.
Midnight Fireworks Sydney Harbour Bridge Artist Impression Image: City Of Sydney
The Midnight Fireworks will be set to a soundtrack by THE SWEATS (Peter Goodwin) & feature silver & gold pyrotechnics to commemorate the Sydney Opera House’s 50th Anniversary, colour-changing fireworks along & over the arches of the Sydney Harbour Bridge as well as serpent, Saturn ring & horse tail willow aerial shells.
THE SWEATS (Peter Goodwin) Photograph: City Of Sydney
With more than 1 million spectators around the Sydney Harbour foreshore & many millions watching around the world, we are the custodians of the show & our aim is to make it bigger and better each year.
We put everything into creating our work as we want to give people a reason to say ‘That was the best fireworks show ever!’.
We’ve put more than 4,000 hours into designing, staging & launching this year’s display.
The beauty of fireworks is that they are accessible for people everywhere – whether from the east, west, north or south, as long as you can look up & see the sky, you’ll be able to have a front row seat for the show.
If people leave the show with a smile on their face, excitement & a renewed sense of optimism for the year ahead, then we consider our job done.
Fortunato Foti, Foti International Fireworks Director
Clover Moore, City Of Sydney Lord Mayor, Speaks at the Sydney NYE2023 Media Launch. Photograph: City Of Sydney/Abril Felman
New Year’s Eve on Sydney Harbour is objectively one of the most spectacular annual events on the planet.
The event highlights the best qualities of this city – our glorious harbour, relaxed lifestyle & penchant to party.
The festivities bring together people of all ages from more than 200 cultures that make up our city as well as thousands of interstate & international visitors.
I encourage everyone keen to ring in the New Year in Sydney to plan ahead, get there early to avoid disappointment & enjoy everything our wonderful city has to offer.
City Of Sydney documents have revealed We Are Warriors as the creative directors for Calling Country during the NYE2023 & NYE2024 editions with an option to extend to the NYE2025 edition.
We Are Warriors includes Kobie Dee who performed My Home, My Country during the Calling Country live performance last year with Akala Newman & the Brolga Dance Academy.
Calling Country involves 3 separate segments – a Welcome To Country, fireworks & a live performance. All feature a Sydney Harbour Bridge light & pylon projection show. The live performance goes for 3 minutes at 9:08pm & concludes with the presentation of a message stick to the City Of Sydney Lord Mayor. The Welcome To Country opens the show at 8:57pm with a 3-minute televised video while the fireworks go for 8 minutes from 9pm from 4 barges on Sydney Harbour & the catwalk of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The fireworks & live performance are all set to an original soundtrack.
We Are Warriors is an Indigenous social enterprise operating as profit for purpose.
Founded by Indigenous Australian rapper Nooky, the platform is dedicated to celebrating Blak excellence and empowering Indigenous youth.
Here in Australia, a lack of representation means a lack of role models for young Mob to look up to. We’re here to change that. We’re putting a spotlight on Indigenous role models, elevating their success stories and showing the next generation there are no limits. We want to help these kids see what Blak excellence and strong leadership look like, to inspire them to realise their own greatness.
From birth, the odds are stacked against Indigenous kids. In a country where First Nations people make up less than 5% of the population, Indigenous youth account for 80% of all 10-year-olds behind bars.
Systemic racism sees them taken away from their families and put in detention centres at 22 times the rate of non-Indigenous kids. This is a hard reality to grow up with. So where do our young Mob go to feel inspired?
Having faced his own uncomfortable truths, We Are Warriors founder Nooky recognised the need to create a platform to give our Mob something to aspire to, to unlock their own Warrior spirit and drive positive change.
Working with our Warriors to share their stories of resistance and resilience shows the young ones they’ve got options. In Australia, this kind of platform hasn’t existed before. Together, we’re building a movement, and we want to energise everyone to be a part of it. This is just the beginning.
‘We Are Warriors’ Website
We Are Warriors was appointed creative directors of Calling Country of Sydney NYE2023, 2024 & maybe 2025 exactly 1 month before (15/09/2023) the Referendum on Indigenous Recognition through a Voice to Federal Parliament/Government (15/10/2023), which was voted down nationally & in all the states of Australia including New South Wales.
In early September, the Sydney New Year’s Eve (NYE) website was updated for the 2023 edition, revealing 96% of Sydney NYE vantage points are free this year as well as a very plain & white website design.
Last edition, 57% of Sydney NYE vantage points were revealed to be paid ticketed so the Australian Labor Party made an election promise to make all New South Wales (NSW) Government-controlled vantage points free of charge if they won the March state election, which they did.
There are still some paid vantage points. However, most have a good reason to be paid such as included ferry trips (Goat/Clark/Shark Island), charity fundraisers (Taronga Zoo/Royal Botanic Gardens: Foundation & Friends Picnic) & containing venues (Sydney Opera House: Midden By Mark Olive/Opera Bar/House Kitchen/Yallamundi Rooms/Joan Sutherland Theatre/Concert Hall).
The charity fundraisers were given limited exemptions by the NSW Government. The two charities are the Taronga Conservation Society of Australia (Taronga Zoo) and the Royal Botanic Gardens Foundation (Royal Botanic Gardens: Foundation & Friends Picnic). These charity fundraisers underpin their conservation & scientific work.
There is also a free vantage point still at the Sydney Opera House.
There are 2 notable paid exceptions to this year’s vantage points: Cockatoo Island/Wareamah & Dudley Page Reserve.
Cockatoo Island/Wareamah is controlled by the Australian Government via the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust – thus, the NSW Government cannot control that vantage point. However, this vantage point includes compulsory accommodation, which would significantly cost a lot. The price for this vantage point varies from AUD$430 to AUD$9500.
Most significantly is Dudley Page Reserve, which is controlled by the NSW Government via Waverly Council. However, despite being ultimately controlled by the NSW Government, it is still paid at up to AUD$60 per adult with included entertainment. A significant argument in keeping this vantage point paid is that this vantage point is more targeted to Waverly residents as it is the eastern most vantage point at nearly 7km east of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The cost may be also to cover the cost of the vantage point-exclusive entertainment.
The NSW Government referred Sydney Spectaculars to Waverly Council on this issue regarding Dudley Page Reserve.
Vantage points already sold out (as of 2nd December 2023):
Royal Botanic Gardens: Foundation & Friends Picnic
Goat Island
Bradleys’ Head: Mast Precinct
Bradleys’ Head: Amphitheatre
Bradleys’ Head: Athol Lawn
Clark Island
Shark Island
Strickland Estate
Cockatoo Island/Wareamah
Also, all COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have now been removed for the NYE2023 edition including proof of free ticket for City Of Sydney-managed vantage points.
Back to the updated Sydney NYE website, it is very plain & white compared to the colourfulness of previous editions, symbolising the present lack of overall creativity of the overall event.
The updated website did reveal some new details of the 2023 edition:
KIIS 106.5 will once again be the official radio broadcaster.
The 7:30pm Smoking Ceremony will be conducted on 2 extra vessels this year apart from the traditional Tribal Warrior vessel: Mari Nawi & Wirawi, making it the biggest Smoking Ceremony yet in its 18-year history.
The Sydney Opera House will be used for fireworks at Midnight at least for 1 more edition. Could this mean a 50th anniversary tribute is in the works?
Apart from the Sydney Opera House & Harbour Bridge, “some of Sydney’s iconic landmarks” will also be used for fireworks at Midnight (though this most likely refers to the 4 city buildings)
City Of Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, said Sydney NYE resources would help people to make a plan for the big night & explore the many ways to celebrate:
Sydney New Year’s Eve is an iconic event & a wonderful celebration of our safe, harmonious and vibrant city.
With COVID-restrictions lifted & more parkland access available, we anticipate there will be large crowds across the city keen to see the fireworks. I encourage everyone to check out sydneynewyearseve.com and plan ahead.
Whether you’re watching at home or coming to join us along the foreshore, the event is a great way to reflect on the year past & look with hope to the year ahead. I hope locals and visitors alike enjoy the show!
The City Of Sydney has approved the appointment of the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Settlement Services International Limited & the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation as the charity partners for Sydney New Year’s Eve, Sydney Lunar Festival & Sydney Christmas respectively.
Details about each charity are at the end of this article.
The approval was made following an Expression Of Interest (EOI) process in accordance with the City’s Support For Charities policy & is for the next edition of each event with the option to extend to the edition after that.
17 organisations applied to be an official charity partner of at least 1 event.
For Sydney Christmas, 2 extra criteria were added after the EOI closed, which was in early May 2023:
cash handling policy and,
point of sale infrastructure & floats for interactive activations
The applications were then assessed & then recommended to the Cultural & Creative Committee by:
Producer, Major Events and Festivals;
Audience Manager, Major Events and Festivals; &
Social Programs Officer (LGBTIQA+), Social City.
The Cultural & Creative Committee meeting, held on Monday the 19th of June 2023, then recommended the appointments to Council, who approved the recommendations on Monday the 26th of June 2023.
Now the Council has approved the appointments, the signing of Charity Participation Agreements are next & were due by mid-July 2023.
National Breast Cancer Foundation
National Breast Cancer Foundation is a leading not-for-profit organisation funding world-class breast cancer research. Since their inception in 1994, they have been involved in more than 600 world-class research projects across Australia & continue to fund further research to create a greater impact and help reach their vision of 0 deaths from breast cancer.
Settlement Services International Limited (SSI)
SSI is a not-for-profit organisation established over 20 years ago who provide life-changing human & social services. Their purpose is to empower individuals, children, families & communities from diverse backgrounds & identities to fully participate in the economic, social, civic & diverse cultural life of Australia. SSI’s mission is to create a more equitable, resilient, enriched & inclusive society.
Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation
Sydney Children’s Hospital is one of the largest children’s health charities in the country. Since 1986, they have been delivering on their vision of a world where every child has access to the best healthcare when & where they need it. Each year, they raise vital funds for 5 of their key entities including Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Bear Cottage, Kids Research & Newborn and Paediatric Emergency Transport Service, to enable powerful change for children’s health care.
The City Of Sydney has been looking for new charity partners as part of an Expression Of Interest (EOI) process for the next edition of Sydney New Year’s Eve (NYE), Sydney Lunar Festival & Sydney Christmas with the option of the following edition after that too.
Charity partners use the respective events to promote and raise funds for their cause including through the event’s media & marketing campaigns. For Sydney Lunar Festival, they will also get speech & networking opportunities while for Sydney Christmas, they will get a merchandise stall.
The EOI revealed Sydney Christmas this year will have at their concerts interactive paid activations.
Aside from charities applying, throughout the EOI process, the City Of Sydney may also approach potential candidates.
The EOI process opened in late April & closed in early May. An evaluation panel will review applications with the successful charities:
being an official registered charity or public benevolent institution,
not being associated with religion,
undertaking work which produces significant community benefits,
aligned with the City of Sydney’s values,
values’ being important for the respective event &,
holding reasonably required insurances.
demonstrated previous experience in successful online fundraising (does not apply to Sydney Christmas)
providing & managing a minimum of 2 employees or volunteers to operate an interactive paid activation at each concert (Sydney Christmas only)
A recommendation will be sent to Council & once Council approves the recommendation, which should be by September 2023, the City Of Sydney will prepare letters of agreement.
The ABC unilaterally (that is, not in conjunction with the City Of Sydney) tried to repeat the success of the NYE2019 charity concert for NYE2020 by replacing the Red Cross with Lifeline & Kids Helpline as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it was not as great a success as NYE2019 despite the massive effects of the pandemic on mental health though it did raise about $700,000 on NYE alone (that’s about 5 cents per Australian).
Also interesting, the City Of Sydney specifically mentioned for the EOi that they reserve the right to not choose a charity partner, which is a very rare thing to do, and also to not hold the events, which is understandable, as we’ve seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Both the former Family Fireworks & the relatively new Calling Country Fireworks were held at 9pm & went for 8 minutes. Expressions Of Interest closed in May with the creative directors of the overall Calling Country segment including the fireworks being chosen in August.
It was highly anticipated that the Calling CountryFireworks & the wider segment will be held again for NYE2023 due to the commitment by the Australian Government in February to hold a referendum on whether to recognise in the Australian Constitution Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Voice. The referendum is being held in a fortnight on Saturday the 14th of October. A successful result would make Calling Country Fireworks & the wider segment an extra special celebration this year. However, while opinion back in February was about 63% in favour of the Constitution alteration, since mid-July, opinion has reversed & is now about 59% against the proposed Constitution alteration and still climbing. This generates speculation on what the final creative concept for the Calling CountryFireworks & the wider segment will be for NYE2023 if a ‘no’ vote is the result.
While the return of Calling Country Fireworks & the wider segment for NYE2023 was expected for the above reason, with the decision to extend Calling Country Fireworks & the wider segment to NYE2024 & highly likely NYE2025, it was a highly surprising, though not entirely unexpected, bit of news that the City Of Sydney have decided to permanently replace the Family Fireworks with the Calling Country Fireworks through that decision. The history of Sydney NYE, as detailed below, shows a growing presence of an Indigenous segment, which is motivated by a commitment by the City Of Sydney to showcase local Indigenous culture to the world through this major soft power event.
Calling Country utilises the whole of Sydney Harbour to allow us to respectfully acknowledge the land and Harbour’s traditional custodians through the creativity storytelling of the oldest living culture on Earth, which details the area’s Dreaming and our relationship to it.
The whole segment called Calling Country for the next 3 editions will begin at 8:57pm like last year. It will start with a 3-minute Welcome To Country before the 8-minute fireworks display starts at 9pm. At 9:08pm, a 3-minute concluding live performance with a message stick presentation to the City Of Sydney will occur on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s stage at the Sydney Opera House. Throughout all 14 minutes, there will be a soundtrack, which has to be original for the fireworks & concluding live performance; as well as a Sydney Harbour Bridge light & pylon projection show.
Unlike the Midnight Fireworks since NYE2015, Calling Country must have an overarching creative concept. This has resulted in Calling Country becoming the most creative element of the entire event despite being held about 3 hours before the arrival of the new year!
History Of 9pm Fireworks & Indigenous Events On NYE
Fireworks on New Year’s Eve at 9pm have been held in Sydney since NYE1989. From NYE1989 to NYE1995, this was called Stereo Skyshow & lasted about 25 minutes. When the Midnight Fireworks officially returned on NYE1996, though as the secondary show of the event, the pre-COVID-19 title of 9pm Family Fireworks was given to the display, which was the main show of the night until the Millennium (NYE1999), which is when the display became the secondary show of the night at 12 minutes long. It was later reduced to 10 minutes on NYE2000 and to 8 minutes on NYE2003, which has been the duration ever since. The display was delayed by 15 minutes due to high winds on NYE2019 & cancelled, due to high winds on NYE2002 and due to the COVID-19 pandemic on NYE2020.
On NYE2005, a Welcome Ceremony was held at 8pm from vessels in the Harbour. It was a traditional Indigenous smoking ceremony, which was renamed as Smoking Ceremony from NYE2007. For NYE2008, it was combined with the new Acknowledgement Of Country at 8:40pm, detailed in the next paragraph. However, Smoking Ceremony returned as a separate event for NYE2009. For NYE2011-13, daytime smoke pyrotechnics from the barges were added. For NYE2011, it was combined into the Acknowledgement Of Country again for 1 edition. From NYE2012, it has been held at 7:30pm. For NYE2014, it was not advertised but may have still happened but definitely returned in NYE2015 as part of the new Welcome To Country at 8:40pm, detailed in the next paragraph as well. However, Smoking Ceremony again returned as a separate event for NYE2018, again at 7:30pm but held concurrent with the Welcome To Country. However, due to a thunderstorm, Smoking Ceremony was cancelled that edition and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was also not planned for NYE2020 & 2021. Since NYE2021, the Welcome To Country has been held separately from Smoking Ceremony.
An Acknowledgement Of Country was first held on NYE2008 at 8:40pm, when Rhoda Roberts became the overall event’s creative director & were held every year until NYE2014. It was considered the 3rd major fireworks display of the event, being a 5-minute segment, complete with a live performance & Sydney Harbour Bridge pylon projections as well as a Bridge Effect during NYE2009. On NYE2015, under a segment-only creative direction of Rhoda Roberts, it became a Welcome To Country which added a Sydney Harbour Bridge light show to it. Until NYE2017, it quickly became the most creative element of the event and this was when it was still considered the 3rd major fireworks display of the event.
In 2018, Calling Country was first held as a 3-minute live performance & Sydney Harbour Bridge light/pylon projection show conducted immediately after the 9pm Family Fireworks. This significantly reduced the prominence of the Welcome To Country, which was moved to a 7:30pm timeslot concurrent with Smoking Ceremony. However, due to a thunderstorm, both of those concurrent events were cancelled that edition. On NYE2019, flares from the barges were to be added to Calling Country but due to the high winds, they did not feature & the schedule was rearranged as well due to the high winds so Calling Country was held at 9:03pm. That edition featured the 1st presentation of a message stick to the City Of Sydney Lord Mayor during the segment, which featured again on NYE2022. The Welcome To Country and Calling Country were cancelled for NYE2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Calling Country was also not held during NYE2021 for creative reasons.
During 2021, while the COVID-19 pandemic waves were easing to allow more people to attend Sydney NYE, it was still considered highly dangerous to have people transiting from/to the event after the 9pm Family Fireworks particularly with young children around. After pressure to hold the 8-minute fireworks at 9pm was placed on the City Of Sydney, they came to a comprise with the NSW Government to bring back the Welcome To Country but at 9pm, opening with an 8-minute fireworks display from the Sydney Harbour Bridge catwalk, 2 barges (compared to the usual 4) & pontoons in front of the Bridge followed by a 3-minute live performance/message stick presentation to the City Of Sydney Lord Mayor. A Sydney Harbour Bridge light show & pylon projections featured during all 11 minutes. For NYE2022, the COVID-19 pandemic was still affecting the planning of the 9pm Family Fireworks and thus,the Indigenous replacement continued. However, Calling Country returned with the Welcome To Country being an opening 3-minute Sydney Harbour Bridge light/pylon projection show (and televised video) within the segment at 8:57pm and the 9pm 8-minutes fireworks (this time with all 4 barges) were separated as a distinct segment within the segment as well rather than being the combined fireworks/live performance-message stick presentation event held on NYE2021.
While this may be a controversial decision, as it requires the removal of the child-friendly Family Fireworks, the Calling Country Fireworks is without a doubt now the most creative element of the night even though it does not feature city buildings, the Sydney Opera House & all but the catwalk of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Here is last year’s if you have forgotten how great they are:
Opinion
Sydney Spectaculars is of the opinion that the more-universal Family fireworks should return in the 9pm timeslot but Calling Country should still be held earlier in the night with the fireworks reduced by 3 minutes to become a 5-minute display. It should be held as the main opening event of the night and televised particularly as it is the most creative element of the event currently. It will allow Sydney’s Indigenous culture to still be expressed to the world while also having a more universally-themed fireworks display at 9pm that children can enjoy.
Is the City Of Sydney about to bring back some creativity into Sydney New Year’s Eve (NYE)?
The City Of Sydney has announced they want to hear ‘fresh concepts’ & ‘innovative ideas with capacity to broaden the creative contribution’ of their events as part of a Big Creative Ideas process.
And they want to hear from anyone!
It’s not just Sydney NYE that want concepts & ideas for but any of their events including Sydney Christmas & Sydney Lunar Festival.
Proposals can be just 1 small thing to redesigning a whole event but they should be adaptable, sustainable proposals with “improved environmental performance”. Where applicable, they should be experienced by a live & broadcast audience. For a live audience, it should be accessible to a large-scale audience.
Proposals should also reflect the event’s traditions & objectives.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said proposals should be similar in scale, timing and impact to their respective events.
We want to explore new technologies & ideas that may be included in our major events to showcase Sydney’s creative innovation to the world – this could include drones, light shows & projections – but the sky’s the limit.
Our aim is to build on Sydney’s status of producing cutting-edge, dynamic & extraordinary events that push the boundaries of innovation & leave a lasting impact on attendees and audiences.
City Of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore
All Proposals Criteria
Creative concept including curatorial vision and detail, concept presentation, reference images & collaborating artists’ experience and calibre.
Relevant production experience including in carrying out services of a similar scale and nature.
Technical production ability
Feasibility
Risk
Sydney NYE Proposals Extra Criteria
Fireworks engagement reflection
Fireworks integration reflection
Sydney Harbour exclusion zone & its’ airspace focus (see map below)
8pm-12am activation (note: sunset is around 8:10pm & fireworks are held at 9pm-9:08pm and 12am-12:12am)
Clearly visible to a live audience about 650 metres away
Positioned to be filmed by Sydney Opera House television cameras
Global appeal
Meet major international event standards
Sydney New Year’s Eve 2022 – Pride Maritime Map Image: New South Wales Government
How To Apply
While applications close at 11am AEDT on Thursday the 26th of October 2023, there is an optional 1-hour briefing session to be held at Town Hall House, 456 Kent Street, Sydney on Thursday the 28th of September 2023 at 2:15pm AEST. This briefing session will also be held online. If you want to register for the optional 1-hour briefing session, e-mail crivilloosborne@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au .
For more information on the Big Creative Ideas process, click here.
Successful applications will be notified in January 2024.
If you are successful, you may either make a shortlist to work with the City Of Sydney to develop the ideas or participate in a tender process or both.
Sydney Spectaculars 
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