One of Australia’s most iconic beaches turned a sea of red on Christmas Day as thousands of revellers flocked to Coogee Beach in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Backpackers and expats decked out in Santa hats, reindeer accessories, and red bikinis took to the sand and surf, making the holiday celebration impossible to miss.
Lifeguards warned against swimming while drinking, while council rangers in high-vis patrolled the crowd, and signs reminded attendees that alcohol was prohibited and glass was not allowed.
By 7pm, Waverly Council Workers were out in force cleaning up the mess left behind.
The jaw-dropping turnout came after Waverley Council urged backpackers to avoid Bronte Beach following a chaotic gathering last year that left behind a trail of destruction.
Last year’s unauthorised event, dubbed ‘Orphan’s Christmas’ or ‘Backpacker Christmas’, drew more than 15,000 people, leaving debris, broken glass, and safety hazards.
“This year, that kind of crowd is simply not safe and Council’s message to those hoping to play at Bronte is clear,” Waverley Council said. “A zero-tolerance approach to anti-social behaviour will be enforced and alcohol and glass will be confiscated when detected. Bronte is not a good option and brings significant personal risk. Do not come.”
This year, Waverley invested more than $250,000 in police, security, cleaning, buses, and toilets to manage crowds, while roughly half of Bronte Park remains off-limits due to ongoing construction of the new Bronte Surf Club.
“This is not an approved or managed council event, and while we strongly discourage crowds from attending, we cannot ban people from the beach,” Mayor Will Nemesh said earlier in December.
“That said, we are committed to mitigating the impacts on the community as much as possible.”
As a result, many revellers shifted south to Coogee, where Randwick Council had prepared for a potential influx.
“The alcohol-free rule allows police to take enforcement action if needed,” a Randwick spokesperson said.
“While crowd numbers are large, feedback so far suggests most people are well-behaved and are celebrating an Australian Christmas by the beach.”
Additional bins, cleaning crews, and information campaigns to nearby backpacker hostels were put in place, with some extra resources sent from Bronte.
Despite grey skies, attendees kept arriving in droves. With long lines for toilets, some reportedly urinated in bottles or showers, while police patrolled the area, with more officers arriving as the afternoon progressed.
Further south, Bronte Beach remained quieter than usual, with ongoing construction and council safety concerns limiting access.
Residents have long criticised the Christmas Day party there for noise, rubbish, antisocial behaviour, and the use of the park as a “mass urinal”.
https://thewest.com.au/news/thousands-of-backpackers-flock-to-coogee-beach-as-bronte-christmas-party-restrictions-push-crowds-south-c-21116935
