300,000+ people gathered yesterday for the 45th annual Mardi Gras celebration on Oxford Street Sydney.
Oxford Street, symbolic as its the street the ’78ers,’ marched down on June 4th 1978, paving the way for what Mardi Gras represents today.
More than 12,500 people marched down Oxford Street, with an estimated 200+ floats!
‘Dyke on Bikes,’ Sydney’s longest running female-identified motorcycle club lead the procession on Saturday night, as they have done since 1991.
NSW Department of Environment and Heritage confirmed on February 3rd, that the 2.4km stretch has been added to the NSW State Heritage Register, as it’s holds significance in the movement, and has paved the way for a more inclusive Sydney, and NSW.
Anthony Albanese, First Sitting Prime Minister To March At Sydney Mardi Gras;
Anthony Albanese is Australia’s first Prime Minister to march in the Sydney Mardi Gras parade.
“It’s unfortunate that I am the first, but this is a celebration of modern Australia,” Mr Albanese told ABC.
26.9 Degree’s And Blue Skies In The City;
The Bureau Of Metrology reported a maximum temperature of 26.9c for Sydney yesterday.
‘Operation Mardi Gras’ 900 officers on the beat, only four arrests;
Four arrests were made yesterday, including for assaulting police.
One police officer was assaulted on Oxford Street, with a suspected broken nose, another suffered a black eyes and grazes whilst on route to Moore Park.
NSW Police deployed 900 officers to Mardi Gras.
Specialist units included; Public Order and Riot Squad, Operations Support Group, Mounted Unit, Dog Unit, PolAir, Licensing Police, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, and Police Transport Command.
Overall police report the behavior of crowds to be positive.
Major Brands In The March;
- Headspace
- Beyond Blue
- Life Without Barriers
- Minus18
- Guide Dogs
- Coles
- People with Disability Australia
- Mini
- Qantas
Public Transport
Ed Sheeran also performed Saturday evening at Accor Stadium.
Monster Truck Mania Live, also held it’s performance on 25th Feb in Sydney at Qudos Bank Arena.
Light Rail serves from Moore Park to Central operated at standing only room.
The Sound Of Pride
- Veronica’s – Untouched
- The Village People, YMCA
- Alesso, Tove Lo, Heroes
- Whitney Houston, I Wanna Dance With Somebody
- Kool & The Gang, Celebration
Controversy
- Former Green’s member Lidia Thorpe stopped the procession on Saturday Night, before the parade resumed after she was removed by Police. Mobile phone footage showed her laying down in front of a truck as she was ‘boo’d’ by crowds.
- A mural on Wynyard Street, was destroyed by vandalism, which featured a man in bondage attire and a teddy-bear mask on his head. People opposed to the mural believed it would attract the attention of children. ‘leave the kids alone,’ read the spray painted message left by vandals.