Melburnians flocked to the CBD to celebrate the arts and culture of the city at White Night 2014. Vision: Luminaire Pictures
White night seemed more colourful than white.
I started at the northern end of Swanston Street, a couple of early pics for first edition.
From there it was into the State Library to see “Molecular Kaleidoscope — Virus One Billion Times” a bright light show projected on to the walls of the La Trobe Reading Room.
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After photographing the Premier taking a look from above, I went out on to the floor a met Angus Russell, a seven-year-old excited to be up past bedtime, who was happy to pose for a few pics as the light show rolled over the wall and roof.
Premier Denis Napthine takes in the ‘Molecular Kaleidoscope’ at the State Library. Photo: Hamish Blair Source: News Corp Australia
Seven-year-old Angus Russell from North Fitzroy takes in the ‘Molecular Kaleidoscope’ at the State Library. Photo: Hamish Blair Source: News Corp Australia
By now it was dark outside and White Night had come to life.
A mobile party was on the steps of the Library, neon pink seemed to be the theme, but any bright colours seemed to fit in.
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They moved off and I then had time to take in the light show on the outside of the library, it cycled through a number of colours and patterns, but the highlight for me was the lattice of primary colours, blue, red and yellow, a sharp contrast on the grand library building, but a perfect fit for the mood of the night.
Revellers enjoy the atmosphere outside the State Library. Photo: Hamish Blair Source: News Corp Australia
The shot tower inside Melbourne Central. Photo: Hamish Blair Source: News Corp Australia
I took a quick look at the light show on the shot tower in Melbourne Central, then it was south down Swanston Street, stopping to see a bizarre pair of musical buskers, one on a tuba and the other a one-man band of singing, drums and ukulele.
The view down Swanston Street was spectacular from that end I could see all the way down St Kilda Road to the Shrine and the sea of people all the way along was amazing.
Flinders Street Station during the White Night Festival. Photo: Hamish Blair Source: News Corp Australia
White Night sign on Princes Bridge. Photo: Hamish Blair Source: News Corp Australia
A few minutes later I was stuck in that same sea, a sword swallowing busker drew a huge crowd, clogging the entire street, but I couldn’t get close enough to take photos and for a while I had to move with the tide of the crowd.
But the mood of everyone was good and eventually the crowd moved forward.
I ducked through the mall in Bourke Street and then into Union Lane, where I found my neon pink mobile party from earlier.
Flinders Street during the White Night Festival. Photo: Hamish Blair Source: News Corp Australia
Revellers party in Union Lane during the White Night Festival. Photo: Hamish Blair Source: News Corp Australia
Between them they had 30 or 40 speakers, tape recorders and ghetto blasters, all synced up playing the same songs, the crowd danced and partied in the graffitied laneway to classic hits like the Beatles ‘Twist and Shout’ and Billy Idol’s ‘White Wedding’.
From there I pushed my way through to Flinders Street to see the light show on the station and other buildings then past the last few thousand people across Princes Bridge with the giant ‘White Night’ sign, before retreating to the quiet of HWT towers.
— Hamish Blair, Herald Sun photographer
One of the crowd tries to capture White Night at Flinders Street Station on their iPhone. Picture: Nathan Dyer Source: News Corp Australia
White Night crowds outside Flinders Street Station, as seen from Young and Jacksons second floor. Picture: Nathan Dyer. Source: News Corp Australia
Nathan Dyer — Herald Sun photographer
At 9pm the city was flooded with tens of thousands of people congregating around Federation Square.
By 9:30pm it was taking revellers half an hour just to move the short distance from Federation Square to the Young and Jackson Hotel.
Despite the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds many parents were seen with young children and a number fought through the crowds pushing prams with babies.
Flinders Street Station. Picture: Nathan Dyer. Source: News Corp Australia
White Night crowds on Princes Bridge. Picture: Nathan Dyer Source: News Corp Australia
The White Night crowd as seen from the windows of Young and Jacksons. Picture: Nathan Dyer. Source: News Corp Australia
The lucky children rode high on their parents shoulders taking in the best views in the city.
At least one reveller was seen to pass out in the jam, with security guards and friends carrying her to safety.
At one stage a police car made its way down Flinders Street, heading west past Flinders Street Station, with about 100 revellers running behind just so they could get through the crowded bottleneck that had formed outside the station.
Others climbed light poles in an attempt to attract friends.
White Night from Princes Bridge. Picture: Nathan Dyer. Source: News Corp Australia
Two women take a break from the White Night crowds and look down from the second floor of Young and Jacksons. Picture: Nathan Dyer Source: News Corp Australia
At Federation Square, thousands of revellers turned the square into an all-night dance party led by dancers on the stage.
While along Alexandra Gardens and across at Birramung Marr, trees along the Yarra were transformed into human faces with projections beaming across the river.
By midnight crowds had dispersed slightly and revellers were able to move much more freely, although going remained heavy around Flinders Street Station and along Swanston Street well into the morning.
Fans continued to party long into the night, with Federation Square revellers leading the charge.
A walker tries to capture White Night on an iPad. Picture: Nathan Dyer Source: News Corp Australia
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