Christmas lights bring joy to Sydney
Sydney’s much-loved Christmas projections are, for the first time, lighting-up some of Martin Place’s most striking historic buildings, creating a colourful, festive experience in the month leading up to 25 December.
The GPO Clock Tower, Burberry, Westpac Bank and Challis House have joined Sydney landmarks St Mary’s Cathedral and Sydney Town Hall in being illuminated with festive colours.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the annual projections and illuminations attract people to the city centre and created a joyful mood.
“It’s really worth visiting the city centre after sunset to soak up the magical atmosphere and take in the colourful moving projections on these buildings,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Bring your loved ones – and a camera – and take a walk from Sydney Town Hall to Martin Place and St Mary’s Cathedral to celebrate the season of peace, joy and goodwill.”
Martin Place is Sydney’s home of Christmas this year with a 21-metre-tall interactive Christmas tree, sparkling disco-style banners and roving choirs complementing the projections.
Sydney’s most-loved Christmas tree is dressed with 60,000 lights, 120 interactive stars, 200 shiny baubles and topped with a 1.5-metre wide star.
The Boulevard of Light in Pitt Street Mall features more than 100 living, potted Christmas trees and an overhead canopy of 62,000 lights, creating a festive wonderland. The trees will be auctioned during the week of Christmas with all proceeds going to Guide Dogs NSW/ACT.
Sydney Town Hall’s renowned sandstone facade is this year illuminated with festive colours starting from the steps all the way up the 55-metre tall clocktower.
From 10 December, the St Mary’s Cathedral projections will acknowledge the United Nation’s International Year of Light with themes and imagery based on the power of light. The City is waiving venue hire fees worth around $70,000 each year for the next three years to help the projections proceed.
Their annual Lights of Christmas projections illuminate the 75-metre tall façade of the cathedral with vivid 3D imagery complemented by sound and choirs.
City lights and projections:
Sydney Town Hall, 483 George Street: 7pm–midnight, until 25 December
Boulevard of Light: 8.30pm–1am, until 25 December
Pitt Street Mall with more than 100 Christmas trees
Martin Place: 8.30pm–1am, until 25 December
Westpac Bank, 341 George Street
Burberry, 343 George Street
GPO Clock Tower, 1 Martin Place
Challis House, 4 Martin Place
St Mary’s Cathedral, College Street: 7.30am–midnight, 10–25 December.
