Magnetic Melbourne is back to its vibrant best, as locals and visitors alike flock to the city in record numbers to enjoy our sensational summer line-up of events, retail, hospitality and creativity.
Melbourne experienced its busiest month of activity in December since the start of the pandemic, anchored by the City of Melbourne’s beloved Christmas Festival and biggest ever New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Around 475,000 people brought in 2023 in style in the city, with the vast majority of revellers safely enjoying the dazzling fireworks and laser displays from 30 CBD rooftops.
The event caps off a busy year for the City of Melbourne, focused on delivering a better-than-ever Melbourne experience for residents, traders and visitors.
In June, Council handed down its landmark 2022–23 Budget, with record investments in city-shaping infrastructure, stellar events and initiatives to make the city cleaner and safer.
Other notable achievements from the 2022 highlight reel included:
- More than 1.7 million people filled the city for our major events, including record crowds at Moomba and Firelight Festival
- Over 24,000 conversations between the Business Concierge team, city business owners and potential investors
- Appointment of the inaugural Invest Melbourne Advisory Board, led by financial services executive Amanda Coombs
- $100 million boost for city hospitality businesses, with the wrap of the Melbourne Money and Midweek Melbourne Money programs
- Supported the activation of 60 vacant spaces, through the Shopfront Activation Program
- Delivered $4.25 million towards arts projects and creative organisations
- Launched the Only in the City integrated marketing campaign with a uniquely Melbourne pop-up activation
- Welcomed more than 580,000 people to our permanent and pop-up libraries
- Released the Greenline Project Business Case, showing a benefit cost ratio of $3.29 for every dollar spent
- Installation of five floating wetlands on the Yarra River – Birrarung
- Improved protection for more than 120 CBD buildings as part of the Hoddle Grid Heritage Review
- Start of work on the Kensington Community Aquatic and Recreation Centre development
- Restoration of more than two-thirds of the Queen Victoria Market’s heritage sheds
- Over 2.6 million e-scooter trips, as part of the shared e-scooter trial
- 824 planning permits lodged in the City of Melbourne, worth more than $3 billion
- More than 150,000m2 of graffiti removed from across the city, as part of Council’s Graffiti Blitz
- Five potential locations revealed for the ambitious Power Melbourne community battery project
- Expansion of the Food Organics and Garden Organics waste service, diverting 1,900 tonnes from landfill from 23,000 households
- More than 3,200 new trees planted, adding to the city’s canopy cover
- More than $15.5 million raised for the landmark Make Room initiative
- Launched 12 neighbourhood portals after consultation with over 7,000 residents, businesses, students and visitors
- Nearly 3,000 children assisted by school crossing supervisors at 28 sites across the municipality
Quotes attributable to Lord Mayor Sally Capp
“Magnetic Melbourne dazzled as huge crowds packed the city to ring in 2023 in style, with our biggest ever New Year’s Eve celebrations.”
“The city put on a spectacular show with the return of our hugely popular rooftop fireworks after a three-year hiatus – delighting Melburnians and visitors alike.”
“We’re very proud of what we’ve achieved in 2022, and we couldn’t have done it without the support of every volunteer, worker and business owner.”
“We look forward to delivering on what matters to all Melburnians – driving our ambitious agenda into the new year and making sure our city traders can adapt and grow as our city finds its new rhythm.”