Canberrans celebrate on New Year’s Eve

A potential thunderstorm didn’t dampen the excitement of crowds in Canberra for this year’s New Year's Eve festivities.

Transcript

00:00Saying hello to 2025.

00:08Tens of thousands coming out to witness one of the biggest fireworks displays in the capital's

00:13history.

00:14The excitement began to build early in the night.

00:21I love New Year's Eve here, it's easy, it's happy and it's just really nice, there's a

00:28really nice vibe down here so I'd rather avoid the crowds in Sydney.

00:32The festivities were a chance for Canberrans to reflect on the year that was.

00:36I had a really good time this year with my friends.

00:40And also look to the year ahead.

00:43I'm going to be nicer to my siblings, such an angel.

00:47What are your plans for 2025, what do you want to see?

00:53Not much.

00:55Hoping there's less homework.

00:58Some were gearing up for a big night.

01:01I don't need caffeine or sugar to stay awake.

01:04Yeah, me either.

01:05I want to see like a big kaboom.

01:10And they weren't disappointed.

01:12It was lit, it was lit.

01:18While the displays at the lake went off without problems, unofficial fireworks elsewhere in

01:23the ACT are believed to have sparked a number of small grass fires.

01:27But in general, revellers were praised for their good behaviour.

01:31There were only a handful of arrests and no one was caught driving under the influence

01:35of alcohol or drugs.

01:37And while many were out partying, at 19 minutes past midnight, Pippa Elliott became the first

01:43Canberra baby of 2025.

01:46We knew we'd pass midnight when they all said, Happy New Year, so we knew we'd be a New Year's baby.

01:53And she wasn't the only first.

01:55Hundreds of coin enthusiasts descended on the Royal Australian Mint, but only one could

02:00win the prize of minting the first coin of the year.

02:04Very excited.

02:06I did not think I was going to win, so very lucky.

02:10Hoping 2025 will be rich with good times.