Christmas Day tensions rise at one of Australia’s most famous beaches as partygoers vow to descend on the sand for massive celebration – as council begs them to stay away

Revellers have been urged to steer clear of one of Australia’s most famous beaches on Christmas Day as partygoers vow to descend on the sand for a massive celebration. 

Bronte Beach, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, is a hotspot for festive activities, with thousands of Aussies and tourists swarming to the area each year to mark the public holiday. 

Footage from Christmas Day 2024 shows the shoreline teeming with people as sunseekers flocked to the area to embrace the waves during the summer heat. 

But Waverley Council has taken the extraordinary step of begging would-be beachgoers to stay away from Bronte as authorities grapple with safety concerns due to ongoing construction work. 

‘Roughly half of Bronte Park is currently off limits to the public while the development of the new Bronte Surf Club is underway,’ the council said. 

‘Temporary fencing has been erected in much of the area.

‘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.’ 

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. 

‘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!’

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.