Authorities are advising celebrants to avoid one of Australia’s iconic beaches on Christmas Day, as party enthusiasts plan to gather for a grand event on the sands.
Bronte Beach, located in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, is a well-known destination for holiday festivities. Each year, it draws throngs of Australians and international visitors eager to celebrate the public holiday by the sea.
Last year’s Christmas Day footage captured the beach bustling with activity, as sun-seekers flocked to enjoy the ocean waves in the warmth of summer.
However, Waverley Council is now urging potential visitors to reconsider their plans to visit Bronte Beach this year. This plea comes amid safety concerns due to ongoing construction projects in the area.
“Approximately half of Bronte Park is inaccessible to the public as we work on developing the new Bronte Surf Club,” stated a council representative.
Large sections are currently cordoned off with temporary fencing, restricting access and raising safety concerns for the anticipated crowds.
‘This means there is a drastic reduction in open space and only narrow channels available to move around.
‘The serious compromise to crowd flow is a safety concern on any day, let alone one that is prone to significant overcrowding.’
Waverley Council has begged beachgoers to avoid Bronte this year due to safety concerns
The council said there is ongoing construction work in the park which is off limits to the public
More than 15,000 people turned up to an unauthorised gathering dubbed ‘Orphan’s Christmas’ or ‘Backpacker Christmas’ at Bronte Beach last year.
The event left the shoreline covered in debris and broken glass as beachgoers took off without disposing of their rubbish.
The council said crowds of that size are ‘hugely challenging at the best of times’, and due to antisocial behaviour and crowd control issues witnessed last year, they had undertaken community consultation about how to better manage the impacts.
As a result, the council said enhanced measures will be in place for 2025, including increased crowd management, bolstered supervision measures, and greater presence of police and security.
In total, the council said it has invested more than $250,000 on these measures – without the assistance of the government.
‘This year, that kind of crowd is simply not safe and Council’s message to those hoping to play at Bronte is clear,’ they said.
‘A zero-tolerance approach to anti-social behaviour will be enforced and alcohol and glass will be confiscated when detected.
‘Bronte is not a good option and brings significant personal risk.
Thousands of people packed Bronte Beach on Christmas Day last year (pictured)
Revellers are pictured enjoying the public holiday last year at Bronte
‘Do not come.’
The warning was first issued by the council on December 11, but was reiterated again following the Bondi Beach massacre amid concerns of overcrowding.
On Christmas Eve, Waverley Council again made another attempt to dissuade potential visitors with a social media post outlining ‘five reasons why Bronte Beach isn’t the place to be this Christmas’.
‘1. Construction zones nearby,’ the post reads.
‘2. Overcrowded and unsafe park conditions.
‘3. Extra police and security on site.
‘4. Alcohol will be confiscated at checkpoints.
‘5. There are safer, more beautiful places to celebrate.
‘It’s time to make a new plan this Christmas!’
The council said increased measures are in place this year in response to the large crowd that packed the beach in 2024
The unauthorised event, dubbed ‘Backpackers Christmas’, left the beach a mess
But the overt attempt to shoo away visitors was met with backlash as people declared they would still be going to the beach.
‘I’m already there,’ one person said.
Another added: ‘Bronte the place to be lad, meet you there.’
Others slammed the council for hindering people’s Christmas plans.
‘This is terrible,’ someone else said.
‘Put more bins up let people enjoy Christmas you grinch.’
‘Can’t stop anyone from using a public beach ffs [for f*** sake]’ another wrote.
More to come.
