New Year’s Eve 2024 as it happened:Sydney and Melbourne fireworks displays ring in 2024

And that’s where we’ll leave our coverage of the country’s celebrations of the new year.

What an evening it has been,and an absolute privilege to have spent it with you.

Wishing you all the best for 2024.

P.S. If you’ve been out and about,here’s what you missed on the gogglebox.

They were lucky enough to see the fireworks,but now they’re unlucky enough to face a long wait time to get home from Melbourne’s CBD.

Commuters trying to leave the city are packing onto platforms at Southern Cross Station. That’s if they could get into the station.

The City Loop stations were shut at 11.45pm as a crowd control measure.

It’s hard to put words to the magnificent displays we saw across the country.

Here’s what Sydney looked like from masterful photographer Dion Georgopoulos’ lens at Mrs Macquarie’s Point:

We’ll bring you photos of Melbourne as soon we get them.

And Happy New Year from Melbourne,where tens of thousands lined the Yarra and gathered in Docklands to celebrate 2024.

Thousands counted down in unison,and cheered as the first fireworks went off.

Others used the moment for a cheeky pash under the bright lights,and more danced their way into the new year as the fireworks went on for more than eight minutes.

And with that,Auld Lang Syne begins and we settle into 2024.

The Australian Chamber Orchestra is performing the traditional song on the ABC now.

For auld lang syne,my dear
For auld lang syne
We’ll drink a cup of kindness yet
For the sake of auld lang syne

It’s 2024.

Not too bad yet,is it?

Happy new year!

Sydney is about to launch into the new year with tonnes of fireworks.

To watch Melbourne’s fireworks,tune in to Channel Nine in Melbourne.

The ABC’s livestream is below:

Check out these photos from Max Mason-Hubers that show how incredibly packed Sydney is right now.

These crowds are around the intersection of Young and Bridge streets,which is one block up from Circular Quay.

And in about 35 minutes,they’re all going to try and get home at once.

And around the harbour,revellers have been having fun and relaxing while they wait for the big fireworks. Dion Georgopoulos captured these shots a short time ago. Less than 20 minutes to go!

I’ve loved hearing some of your resolutions and hopes for the new year this evening. Here are a few of my favourites:

Good luck for all of these ones!

There’s less than an hour left of 2023. What better time to spend a bit of time reading Neil McMahon’s wonderful analysis piece on some of the biggest stories of the year?

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Have a read here.