Article by Caleb Runciman, courtesy of The West Australian
The Swan River foreshore was filled with thousands of families for the dazzling Australia Day fireworks show.
The city anticipated record numbers of people around Langley Park for the January 26 event, with an expected crowd of 100,000.
Two tonnes of fireworks across nine barges were sent into the air about 9pm after wind delayed the initial drone show — pushing the display back by 15 minutes.
After two tests gave the all clear, the drones were up at the strike of 8.45pm, with an Aboriginal and Australian flag dazzling united over the river.
It wasn’t just happy families impressed with the show, with former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott in attendance.
“I’m here to join a whole lot of other people to celebrate Australia Day, I think that the national mood has changed, I think it’s changed for the better,” he told The West.
“I think that the angst that our leaders were inculcating about Australia Day has started to dissipate.”
He heralded the drone show as a “remarkable bit of IT work” that showcased “WA’s ingenuity at it’s best”.
“There is no doubt that Australia Day is back in favour, there has been a huge push back to people coming out and celebrations respectfully and aware of the all the conversations,” he said.
“Last year we had 70,000 people and it was easily bigger than that crowd — and from early on.”
“In an ideal world, the (fireworks and drone) combo is still the best, notwithstanding the fact that when it’s windy, the drones may not be able to fly.”
“It’s always going to be a bit of a risk, but the technology keeps improving.”
More than 20,000 people were already spread across Riverside Drive by 6pm, which was almost three hours before the fireworks.
Steve Mclaren and Karen Clarke had secured a prime spot by 4pm ready for the light show — a 30 minute drone and firework display.
“Australia is home, it’s where we were born,” Ms Clarke said.
Food trucks, Australian flags and even motocross were littered throughout the crowd hours ahead of the finale.
With a flag perched on his esky, Mr Mclaren said smiling faces and the “easy going” nature of others made him want to celebrate.
“It’s a free country where we are free to speak. . . there is open and clean air,” he said.
“There are all sorts of people living here — they are happy, easy going and the skies are blue.”
Seven-year-old Corey Knox said his favourite thing about Australia, so far, was the “kangaroos”.
And his six-year-old sister, Ellie, said the Aussie beaches were “much better” than Scotland’s.
On Sunday, in their hometown of Fort William, it was -2C compared to Perth’s maximum of 32C.
Dozens of police officers were patrolling up and down the foreshore on Sunday, including police commissioner Col Blanch.
Officers were observed conducting searches on several people throughout the day.
The public was advised to be wary of road closures through the CBD. Roads were expected to open about 11pm.
Earlier this week, City of Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas said the crowds for the day were steadily increasing again after 65,000 watched from Langley Park in 2023 and 70,000 in 2024
