In Melbourne the fireworks were a ticket-holders only event. Crowds still turned out on Swanston Street's Princess Bridge hoping to see the tops of skycrapers and our iconic skyline lighting up.

Nothing of the sort happened. Instead there were two appallingly small displays, one down the Yarra behind the river tree line and the other in the more exclusive Docklands precinct, which struggles to attract foot traffic most of the time.

Meanwhile across the suburbs there were many hundreds of illegal fireworks displays, some far more spectacular than the official paid event.

In Melbourne the fireworks were a ticket-holders only event. Crowds still turned out on Swanston Street's Princess Bridge hoping to see the tops of skycrapers and our iconic skyline lighting up.

Nothing of the sort happened. Instead there were two appallingly small displays, one down the Yarra behind the river tree line and the other in the more exclusive Docklands precinct, which struggles to attract foot traffic most of the time.

Meanwhile across the suburbs there were many hundreds of illegal fireworks displays, some far more spectator than the official paid event.