Australians welcome the New Year with spectacular fireworks displays

Australians have welcomed in the New Year in fine style, celebrating the arrival of 2015 with spectacular firework displays.

In Sydney, the iconic midnight firework show was themed to inspire and the harbour city was captivated by one of the largest pyrotechnic displays ever seen.

Around 7 tonnes of fireworks were set off in the 12 minute show which commemorated the International Year of Light, complete with a light bulb centrepiece on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The show also featured a touching tribute to Martin Place siege victims Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson.

More than 1 billion viewers are believed to have tuned in to the Sydney display on television.

Police have praised the behaviour of revellers, with 30 arrests made from over 1 million partygoers who watched from the harbour waterfront.

As the clock struck midnight in Melbourne, the city’s rooftops ignited with colour.

More than half a million people flooded the CBD to watch the sky glitter across 6 sq km of the city skyline.

Lower than expected numbers turned out in Brisbane, with around 45,000 lining the banks of the Brisbane River to watch two firework displays launched from floating barges and CBD buildings.