City of Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp today revealed that 14 tonnes of fireworks will light up the city skyline during the most unique New Year’s Eve display Melbourne has ever seen.
“This year’s fireworks display is more exciting and innovative than ever before,” the Lord Mayor said.
“It will take a team of 75 pyrotechnicians an extra week to install this year’s display, with more than 36,500 effects launched from 22 city rooftops at the stroke of midnight. Believe me, if you can see the city skyline, you’ll see our midnight fireworks.”
The Lord Mayor unveiled some of the exciting new fireworks effects including Flying Dragons, Crackling Dragon Eggs, Spider Shells, Rainbow Fans and Saturn Rings. The display will cover seven square kilometres of the city, guaranteeing that people across the city and surrounding suburbs have a spectacular view of the midnight fireworks.
The fireworks will be synchronised to a specially curated 10 minute soundtrack by Aboriginal Australian rapper, lyricist and hip-hop artist Adam Briggs.
With more than 350,000 revellers expected in the city on New Year’s Eve, the Lord Mayor encouraged people to plan ahead, expect delays and use public transport.
“With such a high volume of people in the city, it’s important that we act respectfully and look after each other as we ring in 2019.
“There will also be a dazzling early-eve fireworks display at 9.30pm at Yarra Park which is a great option for families to enjoy,” the Lord Mayor said.
Those who decide to brave the crowds are encouraged to visit the four official Live Sites at Treasury Gardens, Flagstaff Gardens, Docklands and Kings Domain. The sites, which open from 9pm, have DJs, food trucks and excellent midnight fireworks viewing.
The City of Melbourne will spend $3.4 million on the 2018 display, though just $235,000 of that will be spent on fireworks product, with the majority invested in operational, safety and security costs.
“We continue to work closely with Victoria Police, Emergency Management Victoria and the State Government to ensure everyone has an enjoyable – and most importantly safe – New Year’s Eve,” the Lord Mayor said.
The New Year’s Eve event generated $8.6 million in economic impact in 2017.
The City of Melbourne’s New Year’s Eve celebrations are alcohol-free and fines apply.
Visit the City of Melbourne’s New Year’s Eve for the full details and transport options on New Year’s Eve.
NYE FIREWORKS 2018 – FACT SHEET
Where can the NYE fireworks be viewed from?
The NYE midnight fireworks display has been designed so that it can be viewed from anywhere with a view of the city skyline: “See the city skyline, see the midnight fireworks”.
Watch the fireworks from your own private vantage point outside of the city.
Watch the fireworks live on Channel 7.
If travelling into the city, there are four official Live Sites with entertainment and excellent fireworks viewing at Docklands, Flagstaff Gardens, Treasury Gardens and Kings Domain
The early eve fireworks will take place at 9:30pm at Yarra Park.
The City of Melbourne’s New Year’s Eve celebrations are alcohol free events and fines apply.
Fireworks and effects
In 2018, we can expect a fireworks display that is more exciting and innovative than ever before. This display is designed so that it can be viewed from anywhere with a view of the city skyline. You don’t need to come into the city to view the spectacular display.
While the same volume of pyrotechnic product will be used, Howard and Sons will be arriving in Melbourne an entire week earlier due to the complexity of the display.
Melbourne has never seen this combination of effects before with over 8,300 aerial shells and 36,500 rooftop effects.
14 tonnes of fireworks
3 B Double loads of fireworks and equipment consisting 3 x 40Ft Shipping Containers and 3 x 20Ft Shipping Containers;
22 city building rooftops will be triggered simultaneously on the stroke of midnight and the city skyline will erupt for a 10-minute display;
At midnight, Howard & Sons will fire over 8,300 aerial shells and over 36,500 rooftop effects;
Fireworks will cover 7 square km of the city skyline;
75 pyrotechnicians from around the world will prepare, install, fire and pack up the fireworks display (68 in 2017)
New fireworks effect in 2018
Flying Dragons: Flying Dragons are fireworks that explode in a swirly line, giving the appearance of a dragon taking off into the sky. The dragon shells we will be using have up to 1000 ‘swirls’ in each shell.
Crackling Dragon Eggs: Crackling Dragon Eggs are large masses of silver spots that explode and crackle in the sky in a round egg shape. These effects are incredibly loud, much like a dragon’s roar.
Spider Shells: Spider Shells are fireworks that have 8 distinctive legs. In the 2018 New Year’s Eve display, there will be an abundance of gold and silver Spider Shells, scuttling along the top of buildings, and weaving a vibrant web across the city skyline.
Rainbow Fans: Rainbow Fans are – as the name suggests, big colourful fan-shaped fireworks. Watch out for the bursts of colour as they shoot off the rooftops.
Saturn Rings: Saturn Rings are big aerial shells with a core and a single ring around it, giving it the appearance of the planet Saturn.
Official NYE Soundtrack
The midnight fireworks will be synchronised to a specially curated 10-minute soundtrack by Australian rapper, lyricist and hip-hop artist Adam Briggs. Briggs is an Aboriginal Australian of the Yorta Yorta people. Visit the City of Melbourne’s NYE website for the full details and transport options on New Year’s Eve.
