Latest news with #DestinationNSW
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Huge change to Vivid Sydney 2025 - and the popular show thing that will be missing this year
Vivid has scrapped its drone show and made its famous light walk free for the millions of visitors expected to attend the spectacle this year. The annual event will kick off on Friday and run until June 14 with more than 40 installations and projections set up across Sydney. The drone show, which has been part of the festival since 2021, has been ditched due to safety concerns with Destination NSW confirming the decision way back in March. Concerns had been raised the entertainment would draw in too many people and create dangerous conditions, after thousands of festival-goers were caught in a bottleneck while trying to leave the western side of Circular Quay last year. 'The changes required to mitigate the safety risk at Vivid Sydney 2025 created a significant increase in cost,' Destination NSW said. 'In the broader context of rising costs for staging events, Destination NSW has decided this is not the best allocation of resources.' Fortunately, there is some good news for those planning to visit Vivid 2025. This year's festival will have fewer paid ticketed events from private sponsors, more projections and installations across Sydney and a wider variety of free events. Vivid had previously charged visitors to attend two attractions that had been set up in 2023. The Light Walk: Lightscape in the Royal Botanic Garden cost $30 while Dark Spectrum set visitors back $35. The light walk will now be free with arts minister John Graham stressing the efforts organisers put into ensuring Vivid is as budget-friendly as possible. 'This year's festival is helping people face a cost-of-living crisis by increasing the number of free events, which is great news if you want a good night out without blowing the budget,' he said. 'We are all feeling the pinch in terms of the economy and cost-of-living crisis. 'I really wanted Vivid to respond to that. My job as director is to renovate and refresh the festival every year. 'We want audiences to come back time after time, and not think, "Oh, it's the same old Vivid". We want to keep everyone guessing.' The free light walk will feature illuminations on eight new attractions, including the Museum of Sydney, Barangaroo Metro and the Luna Park big wheel. Vivid is set to feature several high-profile artists, including several projections from Archibald Prize winner Vincent Namatjira and artwork for the Sydney Opera House by the late artist and HIV/AIDS activist David McDiarmid. Vivid lights will also return to Martin Place for the first time since 2018. On top of Vivid Light, the event will host Vivid Music, Vivid Food and Vivid Ideas. All four categories are based on the theme 'What's in a Dream'. Vivid Music will run across several venues, including Darling Harbour, the Opera House and Carriageworks with performers including Sigur Ros, Winston Surfshirt and Japanese Breakfast. TV cook Nigella Lawson has curated three dinners in the new pedestrian tunnel at Martin Place for Vivid Food. Vivid Ideas will host a keynote address by Time magazine design boss D.W. Pine entitled Where Do Ideas Come From?
The Age
15-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
Inside golf's big coup: Why Rory McIlroy is coming to play the Australian Open
'We're absolutely delighted that the Victorian government's come to the party to support it.' Golf Australia had heard the Northern Irishman mention the courses in the odd interview and now had a person on their team, event organiser Antonia Beggs, who had worked on the European Tour for more than a decade. Beggs was connected to McIlroy through relationships established during that time. She set up conversations between golfing officials – who had already decided to revert to a men's only tournament in 2025 after flirting with a dual-gender format for three years – and McIlroy's people, including his manager Sean O'Flaherty. With McIlroy not using his Masters win to change the course of the negotiations and the sandbelt courses remaining the major appeal, the main cog to lock into place was the Victorian government, and more particularly, its use of the major events budget. Contrary to Sutherland's initial fear, McIlroy's Masters win was actually a boon. 'Fortunately, nothing changed when he won the Masters. It just became an even more compelling proposition,' Sutherland said. The win got the political wheels grinding more quickly as Premier Jacinta Allan knew there was no time to dither if the state wanted to secure the event and arguably the most popular golfer in the world at the top of his game. Nor did a potential bid from NSW to steal the event materialise. A Destination NSW spokesperson said there was no official bid lodged for Sydney to host. Victorian Sports Minister Steven Dimopoulos was happy to spruik the $1.3 billion golf tourism brings to the Victorian economy, but claimed commercial-in-confidence to keep the cost to taxpayers a secret. A spokesperson for the premier's office refused to comment on any of the machinations when contacted. Loading While no one would divulge what the offer was, one golf source said it was less than the $3 million Tiger Woods had received to appear in the Australian Masters in 2009. Whatever the cost, the sense from Golf Australia was that McIlroy's price was more than reasonable. His attraction to playing at the sandbelt was a deciding factor in luring him here and therefore ensuring Victoria would host the tournament for the next two years. 'He has for a long time expressed a desire to come here and play tournament golf on the sandbelt,' Sutherland said. McIlroy backed up Sutherland's comments. 'I'm proud to be committing to the Australian Open for the next two years, especially with it being played on the world-class Melbourne sandbelt, somewhere I've always wanted to play professionally,' he said. 'Melbourne is known for being one of the world's great sporting cities and I can't wait to be part of that atmosphere and soak in everything it has to offer, both on and off the course.' Sutherland is confident Australian stars such as Adam Scott, Cam Davis, Jason Day and Min Woo Lee, who play on the PGA Tour in the US, will be motivated by McIlroy's presence. LIV stars Cam Smith, Lucas Herbert and Marc Leishman and the emerging Elvis Smylie are likely to play too. Golf Australia expects 100,000 people to attend – ticket sales in the first two hours blew away targets, already exceeding 50 per cent of the total ticket sales for last year's tournament. The governing body is also in the throes of securing a naming rights sponsor. Golf Australia have their man and McIlroy gets to have a hit on the courses he has long looked at with envy. Though it will be his first competition on the sandbelt course, McIlroy has competed in the Australian Open before. He won the Stonehaven Cup in 2013 in a thrilling duel with Adam Scott at Royal Sydney and returned to try and defend it in 2014.
Sydney Morning Herald
09-05-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Millions of visitors drive through this town every year. Some tell them to skip it
When Stowe shows the Herald the old postmaster's home, Froma Court, built in 1908, a warning blast tells us it is a restricted area, and 'Please move away'. On Lurline Street, the main road leading to Echo Point, some of the once-fabulous 1920s guest houses are restored. Others are falling apart. Further on, one of the area's oldest guesthouses, The Clarendon, is looking its age despite colourful awnings. It is the subject of an interim heritage order by the Blue Mountains City Council after unauthorised works. For Aaron White, a residential house painter, news of what happened to the Paragon was the 'last straw'. He's offered to paint Katoomba's buildings –free, if someone donates materials – to lift the mood and look of the town. 'Tourists bypass the town, and head to the scenery, and the businesses are missing out millions of dollars in revenue,' said White. Loading Resident Michael Hart said when something as significant as the Paragon closed, it had a ripple effect. When the Carrington closed in the late 1980s, other shops shut soon after. 'That stuff adds up. It affects a lot of people.' Some say Katoomba has always had booms and busts. Harriet McCready, the cofounder of Mountain Culture Beer Co. – operating in a restored heritage building – says the streetscape hasn't affected its business. Katoomba remained vibrant even if the buildings looked derelict, she said. More life in the shops would be a plus, but the town was such a gem and the landscape so special that it drew visitors interested in bush walks, rock climbing, the art and their beer. Who to blame depends on who you ask. Locals say the council is too slow to approve projects; others say absentee landlords and developers don't engage with the community; congestion on the main bridge into town, say many, while others point to heritage rules, COVID, and the economy. As a former regulator and head of NSW's Fair Trading, Stowe advocates an inquiry to separate facts from conjecture He also says enforcement action is the most effective way to achieve compliance with heritage laws. According to Destination NSW, the Blue Mountains is the most popular destination outside Sydney, attracting three million visitors a year. Katoomba was once the top place to stay, as much for its ornate architecture as for its natural attractions. It has more historic homes and properties identified as historic or heritage by local, state, federal government and the National Trust, than the rest of the Blue Mountains. Stowe said: 'It was where tourism, in many ways, started in NSW. It was a place where people got away from the humdrum, the smelly city and into the mountain air.' With its relatively intact shops and old boarding houses, Stowe says it could be the Australian version of NZ's Napier, famous for its vibrant Art Deco architecture. Michael Brischetto, a co-owner with Jarvis of Katoomba's heritage-listed Carrington Hotel, said the state of the town's heritage was an embarrassment that reflected poorly on all levels of government. Empty shops opposite the station, bought by Carrington, are scheduled for restoration but are facing delays in approval from the council and Heritage NSW. 'Every time one of these absentee owners wants to sell one of their buildings, the community or local business people should be buying them,' said Brischetto. 'Because we live here. We're the ones who are embarrassed. Let's start doing something about it, right?' Brischetto attributes some of the decline in state heritage listed properties to understaffing of Heritage NSW, saying it failed to inspect and identify projects at risk before they fail. His hotel has been visited only twice in 21 years. The decline of the historic properties deterred investors or businesses. 'They see the hoardings up around places like the Paragon and ours and ask, 'Why aren't people renting these shops?' ' The NSW auditor-general 2023 report on Heritage NSW found almost 90 per cent of items (1583) on the register did not include a physical condition rating. It noted improvements in turnaround on applications for works on listed assets. But it found about 35 per cent (625) of items lacked detailed physical descriptions, which made it hard for officers to pursue breaches. 'The state heritage people are very well-meaning, and I know they're under-resourced,' Brischetto said. For a laugh, he likes to read an old email from Heritage NSW sent a decade ago after he waited months for a response. It said: 'Applicants applying pressure on Ministers to get more resourcing to process their applications would have more effect than anything else. ' Brischetto said, 'The heritage system is broken. It's only when you're trying to do something, when you're trying to preserve or conserve or restore, that [Heritage] get involved.' Mayor Mark Greenhill said Katoomba remained an outstanding tourist destination, and visitor numbers were increasing, not falling. The council was committed to Katoomba thriving as a welcoming destination, but could only operate within its jurisdiction. Greenhill said the council had secured $7 million for improvements, including new street furniture, upgraded lighting and paving, outdoor dining areas and public art. Stowe showed what could be done when the community came together. The Treeline Lurline project is aiming to restore the grand boulevard of trees that once led to Echo Point. Some new trees have been planted and powerlines moved underground. In response to the Herald 's questions, a spokesperson for the Heritage Council and Heritage NSW said the owners of Mount St Marys had responded to representations from Heritage NSW and Blue Mountains City Council and were addressing urgent rectification works.
The Age
09-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
Millions of visitors drive through this town every year. Some tell them to skip it
When Stowe shows the Herald the old postmaster's home, Froma Court, built in 1908, a warning blast tells us it is a restricted area, and 'Please move away'. On Lurline Street, the main road leading to Echo Point, some of the once-fabulous 1920s guest houses are restored. Others are falling apart. Further on, one of the area's oldest guesthouses, The Clarendon, is looking its age despite colourful awnings. It is the subject of an interim heritage order by the Blue Mountains City Council after unauthorised works. For Aaron White, a residential house painter, news of what happened to the Paragon was the 'last straw'. He's offered to paint Katoomba's buildings –free, if someone donates materials – to lift the mood and look of the town. 'Tourists bypass the town, and head to the scenery, and the businesses are missing out millions of dollars in revenue,' said White. Loading Resident Michael Hart said when something as significant as the Paragon closed, it had a ripple effect. When the Carrington closed in the late 1980s, other shops shut soon after. 'That stuff adds up. It affects a lot of people.' Some say Katoomba has always had booms and busts. Harriet McCready, the cofounder of Mountain Culture Beer Co. – operating in a restored heritage building – says the streetscape hasn't affected its business. Katoomba remained vibrant even if the buildings looked derelict, she said. More life in the shops would be a plus, but the town was such a gem and the landscape so special that it drew visitors interested in bush walks, rock climbing, the art and their beer. Who to blame depends on who you ask. Locals say the council is too slow to approve projects; others say absentee landlords and developers don't engage with the community; congestion on the main bridge into town, say many, while others point to heritage rules, COVID, and the economy. As a former regulator and head of NSW's Fair Trading, Stowe advocates an inquiry to separate facts from conjecture He also says enforcement action is the most effective way to achieve compliance with heritage laws. According to Destination NSW, the Blue Mountains is the most popular destination outside Sydney, attracting three million visitors a year. Katoomba was once the top place to stay, as much for its ornate architecture as for its natural attractions. It has more historic homes and properties identified as historic or heritage by local, state, federal government and the National Trust, than the rest of the Blue Mountains. Stowe said: 'It was where tourism, in many ways, started in NSW. It was a place where people got away from the humdrum, the smelly city and into the mountain air.' With its relatively intact shops and old boarding houses, Stowe says it could be the Australian version of NZ's Napier, famous for its vibrant Art Deco architecture. Michael Brischetto, a co-owner with Jarvis of Katoomba's heritage-listed Carrington Hotel, said the state of the town's heritage was an embarrassment that reflected poorly on all levels of government. Empty shops opposite the station, bought by Carrington, are scheduled for restoration but are facing delays in approval from the council and Heritage NSW. 'Every time one of these absentee owners wants to sell one of their buildings, the community or local business people should be buying them,' said Brischetto. 'Because we live here. We're the ones who are embarrassed. Let's start doing something about it, right?' Brischetto attributes some of the decline in state heritage listed properties to understaffing of Heritage NSW, saying it failed to inspect and identify projects at risk before they fail. His hotel has been visited only twice in 21 years. The decline of the historic properties deterred investors or businesses. 'They see the hoardings up around places like the Paragon and ours and ask, 'Why aren't people renting these shops?' ' The NSW auditor-general 2023 report on Heritage NSW found almost 90 per cent of items (1583) on the register did not include a physical condition rating. It noted improvements in turnaround on applications for works on listed assets. But it found about 35 per cent (625) of items lacked detailed physical descriptions, which made it hard for officers to pursue breaches. 'The state heritage people are very well-meaning, and I know they're under-resourced,' Brischetto said. For a laugh, he likes to read an old email from Heritage NSW sent a decade ago after he waited months for a response. It said: 'Applicants applying pressure on Ministers to get more resourcing to process their applications would have more effect than anything else. ' Brischetto said, 'The heritage system is broken. It's only when you're trying to do something, when you're trying to preserve or conserve or restore, that [Heritage] get involved.' Mayor Mark Greenhill said Katoomba remained an outstanding tourist destination, and visitor numbers were increasing, not falling. The council was committed to Katoomba thriving as a welcoming destination, but could only operate within its jurisdiction. Greenhill said the council had secured $7 million for improvements, including new street furniture, upgraded lighting and paving, outdoor dining areas and public art. Stowe showed what could be done when the community came together. The Treeline Lurline project is aiming to restore the grand boulevard of trees that once led to Echo Point. Some new trees have been planted and powerlines moved underground. In response to the Herald 's questions, a spokesperson for the Heritage Council and Heritage NSW said the owners of Mount St Marys had responded to representations from Heritage NSW and Blue Mountains City Council and were addressing urgent rectification works.
Korea Herald
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally Bring Unscripted and Unfiltered Chaos to Vivid Sydney
SYDNEY, May 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Television icons Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally will appear on stage together for the first time in Australia at Vivid Sydney 2025, the Southern Hemisphere's largest arts and culture festival. The husband-and-wife comedy duo will present Unscripted & Unfiltered with Nick Offerman & Megan Mullally at the International Convention Centre Sydney on Saturday, 14 June, closing the festival's 23-day celebration of creativity and innovation. Known globally for their iconic roles as Ron Swanson in Parks and Recreation and Karen Walker in Will & Grace respectively, Offerman and Mullally will engage in a candid conversation moderated by Australian broadcaster Zan Rowe. The pair will discuss their individual careers, partnership, and activism work in the LGBTQIA+ community and environmental issues. On the duo's visit to the Harbour City, Nick Offerman said "Megan and I are powerfully chuffed to get back to town for Vivid Sydney but also to reprise our lovemaking session atop the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Once we have recharged those particular batteries, we'll be thrilled to transfer our slatternly energies to the Vivid Sydney audience. Come for the anecdotes and the burlesque lust in our every turn of phrase, then get stretched out before you get home, because there's gonna be some canoodlin'". Vivid Sydney Festival Director, Gill Minervini said, "We couldn't let Vivid Sydney take place this year without treating visitors to a masterclass in comedy. Nick and Megan are one of the funniest couples alive, and this conversation is set to be equal parts unpredictable and hilarious. Bolstering Vivid Sydney 2025's line-up alongside lifestyle icon Martha Stewart and the formidable Nigella Lawson, there really is something for everyone." Every episode of iconic series Will & Grace and Parks and Recreation is available to stream on Stan, Australia's leading streaming service and Supporting Partner of Vivid Sydney 2025. Tickets go on sale on Friday, 9 May at 9:00 am AEST at About Vivid Sydney Vivid Sydney, the Southern Hemisphere's leading multi-artform festival, transforms Sydney into a vibrant hub of creativity, innovation and community connection. Over 23 nights, light installations, music, ideas and food inspire global audiences and drive cultural exchange. The 2025 theme, 'Dream', sparks imagination and engagement, attracting visitors and fuelling economic growth. Proudly owned by Destination NSW, Vivid Sydney showcases NSW's cultural vibrancy and positions it as a global leader in artistic innovation.
