Australia Day Live at Circular Quay was a massive multi-site broadcast event spanning land, sea, and some of Sydney’s most iconic landmarks — and ResX was right at the heart of it.
From the main stage on the Opera House Forecourt to the beams sweeping across the sails, plus lighting at the Overseas Passenger Terminal, a barge in the middle of Circular Quay, two tugboats, and eight yachts — we had it all covered.
Our expert team, directed by Lighting Designers Stuart Anderson and Paul Collison, managed the show from the Opera House Forecourt, operating no fewer than five MA3 consoles to keep everything perfectly synced. Every hosting position was illuminated with crisp, broadcast-ready lighting, delivered by a powerful lineup of Prolights’ EclPanel TWCs, TWC Mini 2x1s, and the brand-new ECL Fresnel CT+ LIP.
The main stage came alive with dynamic, impactful lighting that shaped the mood and energy — sweeping beams from the Martin MAC Viper XIP, vibrant colours from the Ayrton Perseo Profile S and Domino Profile TC, and crisp, precise effects from the Martin MAC Aura XIP, ACME Pixel Lines, and Sceptrons, all blending together to craft a stunning visual experience.
Across Circular Quay, the vibrant ShowPRO Neptune Superbeams, Sharks, and Strike M’s brought the waterfront to life, casting dramatic highlights and rich textures. The boats were bathed in stunning, immersive washes of light from the ShowPRO LED Fusion Wash Q48s — including one that took an unexpected plunge during bump-out but was miraculously recovered by a diver and still shone perfectly.
On show night, 11 ResX techs were stationed across Circular Quay and delivered a spectacular effort to ensure the two-hour ABC live broadcast ran flawlessly.
From start to finish, it was a huge team effort — and we were proud to help light up the harbour for one of Australia’s biggest nights of the year.
