Thousands flock to New Year’s Eve celebrations across Perth

Thousands of revellers have flocked to celebrations across the State to welcome in the New Year with champagne, music and fireworks.

And from Mandurah to Mindarie, they have plenty of public partying places to choose from.

Big crowds are expected for the City of Perth’s two fireworks events — an early one for families and the first-ever midnight fireworks display on the Swan River.

People started gathering in the late afternoon at vantage points around the city, from Elizabeth Quay and Barrack Square to Kings Park and the South Perth foreshore, to enjoy the spectacular pyrotechnic effects fired from a floating barge.

Fireworks will also light up the night at Mindarie’s Breakwater Marina, on the Mandurah western foreshore and at Rottnest and Rockingham.

Others will celebrate by dancing the night away at music festivals in Claremont, Fremantle and the CBD.

The Smith family are jumping feet first into 2025.

Dad, Ben, — who the The West caught up with at Point Walter with his 14-year-old niece, Lucy, daughter Evie, 12 and son Cian, 9 — is looking forward to reaching half a century this year.

“I’ll be 50, so the whole family is going up to Exmouth to celebrate,” he said.

Evie will also be celebrating a major milestone.

Last year she graduated primary school and is starting high school in February.

“That’s a big deal for her,” Mr Smith said.

Asked what the highlight was for his family in 2024, he said the best was saved for almost last, with the family spending the second last day of the year on Rottnest Island.

“My sister and her family are over from the UK and we’re spending the day on the island,” he said.

“They have come over for Christmas, which is nice because they don’t come over all the time.

“That’s been a highlight for what’s been a fairly quiet year.”

Mr Smith said his family moved to WA more than 11 years ago and said it was a “way better” place to bring up kids than the UK.

And while the Smiths don’t typically worry about New Years resolutions, he said his would be “spending more time with family”.

As a helicopter circled overhead, spectators hauled trolleys and prams piled high with picnic blankets and eskies full of snacks and drinks to the edge of Kings Park overlooking the city.

The Townsley and McCormack families set up from 2.30pm, complete with a badminton set to keep the kids occupied until the early fireworks session.

“It’s close to the fireworks and under the shade,” mum Jackie McCormack said.

Amy Tyrrell and Tom Swatton, originally from Liverpool in the UK, were also enjoying the relaxed atmosphere and warm weather.

While their New Year’s resolutions included the standard aim to get fit, stay healthy and “stop wasting money”, they said an engagement ring was not on the cards this year.

“She wants to travel around the world — I’m not made of money,” Mr Swatton laughed.

“I’d rather travel then have the ring,” Ms Tyrrell agreed.

Sarah Sulon and her friends and family members donned sparkly New Year’s Eve headbands to mark the occasion.

“We’re just looking forward to making memories,” she said.

William Hendry spent his New Year’s Eve watching the fireworks and having something to eat at Mindarie with his two kids.

It’s a bit different to how he would have celebrated New Year’s in Scotland before his children were born.

“It’s a lot more friendly and organised here,” he said.

“You can’t take the kids out in Scotland, it’s too cold.”

Adrian Flematti has travelled from Kalgoorlie to Perth for the past three years to celebrate New Year’s at Matilda Bay with friends.

“We’ve done the same for three years now, it’s become a tradition,” he said.

He said everyone was excited in the lead-up to the Swan River fireworks show.

“There’re 15 of us all up and we came early to grab a berth and a BBQ,” he said.

Kristen Campbell has lived in Australia for 10 years and Perth for five.

She said the weather on New Year’s is the biggest difference to the UK.

“We’re having friends over at home then watching the fireworks from the balcony,” she said.

“The adults will have a few drinks and the kids will have lots of sweets.”

After a year roiled by ongoing conflict and political instability, cities around the world rang in 2025 with celebrations highlighting local cultures and traditions.

Countries in the South Pacific Ocean were the first to welcome 2025, with midnight in New Zealand striking 18 hours before the ball drop in Times Square in New York.

In NZ’s largest city of Auckland, thousands are expected to throng the downtown or climb the city’s ring of volcanic peaks for a fireworks vantage point — and a light display recognising Auckland’s Indigenous tribes.

Two hours later in Australia, more than one million people are expected at Sydney Harbour for the traditional fireworks, with British pop star Robbie Williams leading a singalong.

With 9t of fireworks, it is set to be the biggest display on record.