During long months under a strict curfew, the stroke of midnight is usually dead quiet in Melbourne’s CBD – but not on Thursday night.
Overnight there was an unusual, yet welcome sound.
As the clock ticked past 11.59pm, a chorus of cheering, clapping, screaming, whistling and car horns echoed through the streets.
This was how Melbourne CBD residents chose to celebrate the end of a 262 day lockdown that lifted at 12am.
The cheering appeared to quickly spread, wish truck drivers joining in with their horns.
Twitter was alight with those who witnessed the celebration after rushing out onto their balconies.
“From my city balcony it sounded like New Year’s Eve on the stroke of midnight!” one person wrote.
Another said: “The longest lockdown in the world is finally over!! Yeeeww!! It’s midnight and Melbourne has just started to get her celebration on!”
For those who chose to leave their homes at midnight, some hairdressers started welcoming five fully vaccinated customers in for a long awaited trim.
Pubs were able to pour beers and residents can finally welcome back family and friends to their homes, with a cap of 10 people per day, including dependents.
Outdoor gatherings are now able to include 15 people, the curfew has been scrapped and the only travel radius is between metropolitan Melbourne and the regions.
Weddings and funerals in metropolitan Melbourne are allowed to go ahead with 20 fully vaccinated people indoors and 50 outdoors. In regional Victoria, this is slightly higher with 30 indoors and 100 outside.
More freedoms will be permitted once the state hits 80 per cent double dose vaccinated, which is forecast to be next weekend.
