More than 100 half naked revellers armed with booze and bongo drums descended onto a popular Melbourne beach for a wild sunset party.
Partygoers spilled onto the sand at St Kilda beach in the city’s south-east late on Thursday night with some even twirling fire sticks.
Alarming footage captured many maskless attendees dancing shoulder to shoulder while others played instruments long into the night.
The rowdy party comes just days after police shut down a separate gathering at another Melbourne beach with organisers being charged and many receiving fines.
Under current COVID-19 restrictions in Victoria, a maximum of only ten people can gather together in a public place.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Victoria Police for comment.
Similar scenes were seen on Sunday afternoon at Half Moon Bay in the wealthy suburb of Black Rock.
Dozens of revellers, most without masks, were seen drinking and dancing on the rocks at the secluded beach, with many in just their swimmers.
Partygoers spilled onto the sand at St Kilda beach in the city’s south-east late on Thursday night with many dancing shoulder to shoulder without any masks
Some were seen twirling fire sticks while others played bongo drums and danced long into the night
The party was eventually shut down around 4.30pm and the swarms of attendees sent home.
The decision to end the beachside fun did not go down well with many Melburnians – with some saying those in attendance deserved to let their hair down after the city’s punishing second COVID-19 lockdown.
‘Why are people so invested and snitching on what others are doing to live their lives and have fun?’ one social media user wrote.
‘I guess it’s called being young and free,’ another said.
‘What a beautiful sight. Thanks for sharing. It’s good to see people enjoying themselves at the beach.’
A booze-filled beach party attended by more than 100 maskless revellers at Black Rock, a secluded beach in Melbourne was shut down on Sunday
Others said the police were justified in shutting down the gathering.
‘Total disrespect on others, and wear your bloody masks!! Fine the lot!!’ one person wrote.
Victoria’s Police Minister Lisa Neville said officers were made aware of four illegal parties over the weekend.
Ms Neville said the organisers of two parties, including the one at Black Rock, were fined and charged.
Other attendees who dispersed after police told them to move on were spared any penalties.
‘In this environment, if people are listening and not blatantly trying to challenge police on the directions, that’s a great outcome and that’s what we need to see,’ Ms Neville told reporters on Wednesday.
Victoria has gone 20 days without any new coronavirus cases with a string of restrictions expected to be eased on Sunday.
These include potentially lifting the mask policy, and increasing visitors at a home to ten people.
Some thought those in attendance deserved to let their hair down after the city’s punishing second COVID-19 lockdown. Pictured is another large gathering at the same location shared online on November 3
Source: Daily Mail AU
