Sydney Harbour New Year's Eve Fireworks

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Sydney Harbour fireworks alongside Sydney Opera House
Sydney Harbour fireworks alongside Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Harbour New Year's Eve Fireworks are held every New Year's Eve, over Sydney Harbour, centering at the Sydney Harbour Bridge. They take place in two shows, a smaller show at 9pm and the major show at midnight. Since 2000 the display has been designed and created by "Foti International Fireworks", an Australian company who also designed the displays for the opening and closing of the 2000 Olympics.[1]. You can visit the Sydney New Years Eve website for more details.

The fireworks are regularly viewed by more than one million people, with the New Year's Eve 2007 - 2008 display being viewed by 1.5 million people.[2] The display usually has a theme, with the 2007-2008 theme being "The Time of Our Lives". The display is televised on Channel 10, in two parts, matching the two displays.

Contents

[edit] "Bridge Effect"

Part of the Bridge Effect in the 2004-2005 show.
Part of the Bridge Effect in the 2004-2005 show.

Central to the firework display each year since 1998 is the thematic display on the Sydney Harbour Bridge known coloquially as the "Bridge Effect", which is revealed at midnight at the change of the year. For the "Bridge Effect" there is light display using a framework and complemented by fireworks from the arch, pylons and roadway. In the months leading up to December 31 (usually from late October), the scaffolding and framework are clearly visible, as is the outline for the design, which leaves the Sydneysiders speculating as to how the effect is to be realised.

Year Theme Bridge Effect
1998-99
TBA
Smiley face with hair
1999-2000
The New Millennium
"Eternity" in Copperplate writing, in honour of Arthur Stace
2000-01
Centenary of Federation
Rainbow Serpent and Federation Star
2001-02
Year of the Outback
Uluru
2002-03
Peace
Dove of Peace
2003-04
City of Light
Light show
2004-05
Reflections
Disco ball
2005-06
Heart of the Harbour
Love Heart
2006-07
A Diamond Night in Emerald City
Coathanger and a diamond
2007-08
The Time of Our Lives
A sand timer

[edit] 2006-07 details

Main article: Sydney Harbour New Year's Eve Fireworks 2006-07

The 2006/07 "Bridge Effect" was created to celebrate the bridge's 75th anniversary or Diamond Jubilee in 2007. The theme was "A Diamond Night In Emerald City". The coathanger in the display is in reference to the bridge's nickname. The use of Emerald City is a reference to the play of the same name. A question mark was shown in the nights leading up to the celebrations, which also doubled up as the curved end of the coathanger.

[edit] 2007-08 details

Main article: Sydney Harbour New Year's Eve Fireworks 2007-08

The event attracted over one million visitors to Sydney Harbour. They witnessed over 100 000 firings. [3] The ongoing display in January was terminated early after being buffeted by high winds. [4]

[edit] Firework soundtracks

[edit] 2004 9pm Soundtrack

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[edit] 2004 Midnight soundtrack

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[edit] 2005 9pm soundtrack

[edit] 2005 Midnight soundtrack

[edit] 2006 9pm soundtrack

[edit] 2006 Midnight soundtrack

[edit] 2007 9pm soundtrack

[edit] 2007 Midnight soundtrack

[edit] TV coverage

Main article: Broadcasting of Sydney New Year's Eve

From 1995-96 until 2005-06 the rights to the television broadcast was held by Nine Network with Richard Wilkins as the host. From 2006-07 the broadcaster has been Network Ten with hosts Gretel Killeen and Daniel MacPherson, and in 2007-08 Kim Watkins and Andrew G.

Year Broadcaster Host(s)
1995-96 Nine Network Richard Wilkins
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-00
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07 Network Ten Gretel Killeen
Daniel MacPherson
2007-08 Kim Watkins
Andrew G

[edit] 2006 controversy

See also: 2006 Sydney New Year's Eve Controversy

Televiser Network Ten received complaints regarding its coverage of New Years Eve 2006. The main issue was an episode of The Big Night In with John Foreman, where Matthew Newton sat down with Foreman at a piano and simulated oral sex.[5][6] This led to the telecast being called the "worst NYE ever", and calls for Channel 10 to lose the rights to the telecast. (This was Channel 10's first New Years Eve show, after the rights had been awarded to them from the Nine Network.)

[edit] References

  1. ^ Foti International Fireworks archive
  2. ^ Channel 7 News Sydney, January 1, 2008
  3. ^ AAP. "Sydney's NYE declared a success", Sydney Morning Herald, 2008-01-01. Retrieved on 2008-01-08. 
  4. ^ Gibson, Jano. "Time's up for Harbour Bridge heavyweight", Sydney Morning Herald, 2008-01-08. Retrieved on 2008-01-08. 
  5. ^ Gosnell, Peter. "Ten's smutty party an insult", news.com.au, 2007-01-02. Retrieved on 2008-01-08. 
  6. ^ Gosnell, Peter. "Zero out of Ten", The Daily Telegraph, 2007-01-03. Retrieved on 2008-03-09. 
v • d • e
Sydney Harbour New Years Eve Fireworks
Nine Network Shows
1995-96 · 1996-97 · 1997-98 · 1998-99 · 1999-00 · 2000-01 · 2001-02 · 2002-03 · 2003-04 · 2004-05 · 2005-06
Network Ten Shows
2006-07 · 2007-08 · 2008-09
Main Venues