Safety concerns over Christmas at Bronte gathering

Council is warning revellers to stay away from Bronte on Christmas Day, with serious safety concerns arising from construction works in the park.

Roughly half of Bronte Park is currently off limits to the public while the development of the new Bronte Surf Club is underway.

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.

Bronte attracts huge crowds on 25 December, with more than 15,000 people turning up to the unauthorised gathering dubbed ‘Orphan’s Christmas’ or ‘Backpacker Christmas’ in 2024.

These numbers are hugely challenging at the best of times.

This year, that kind of crowd is simply not safe and Council’s message to those hoping to pay at Bronte is clear.  
Do not come.

The aftermath of last year’s gathering – significant mess and broken glass, antisocial behaviour and crowd control issues – saw Council undertake community consultation about how to better manage the impacts.

As a result, enhanced measures will be in place.

There will be significantly increased crowd management and supervision measures in place, with a greater police and security presence.

A zero-tolerance approach to anti-social behaviour will be enforced and alcohol and glass will be confiscated when detected.

For those hoping to attend the Christmas gathering, for your own safety, please reconsider your plans.

Bronte is not a good option and brings significant personal risk.