Mates reunited, cocktails were drunk and hair was chopped as thousands rejoiced in jubilant scenes on the streets of Melbourne when the clock struck midnight and the city’s long-suffering residents were finally released from the world’s longest lockdown.
After Victoria had met its 70% Covid vaccination target, Victoria lifted its stay at home orders on Thursday at 11:59pm
Revellers celebrated from their apartment balconies while car horns could been heard blasting in the background as overjoyed Melburnians enjoyed their first taste of freedom since August.
Daniel Andrews, I wish you all the best in your attempts to lock them again.
The city has been locked down for 262 consecutive days – a world record. Non-essential businesses were closed and millions of people have been kept in their homes. They are prohibited from going outside after 9pm and cannot travel more than 5km.
Even though there is no medical evidence to the contrary, they are forced outside to wear a mask.
Now fully-vaccinated residents are finally free, celebrations mirrored a wild New Year’s Eve party in the nation’s culinary capital as partygoers descended on pubs, flashing their double-jab status upon entry to eagerly awaiting hospitality staff, who had spent much of the day getting ready for the influx of patrons.
Others were happy to finally have their nails and hair done at midnight. Salons are expected to open for business for a while, with more appointments available.

Overjoyed Melbourne residents savoured their first drink in a pub since August as the city’s lockdown lifted (pictured)

Get up and dance!: The city’s first night of freedom sees a cocktail bartender back in action mixing drinks.

Wild scenes erupted in Melbourne’s streets as midnight approached. Millions of long-suffering people cheered on the end the longest lockdown in history (pictured, mates at 3 Monkeys, on the city’s Chapel Street).

Cheers!: A group of friends toasts Victoria’s end of the grueling stay at home orders at a Melbourne Bar on Thursday
As swarms of residents flocked to bars and restaurants to reunite with their mates, there were jubilant scenes.
Even fast food chains such as McDonald’s saw huge crowds. Video shows diners lining up in the parking lot to enjoy a late-night meal after months of being under a strict 9pm curfew.
Although there is some relief that the worst has passed, it is still too early for people to stop wearing face masks indoors or outdoors.
Other restrictions that are not liked will still be in effect, as well as strict capacity limits for venues and events.

Melburnians couldn’t wait to catch up with their mates, so they raced to the pubs just before midnight (photo taken at Leonard’s House of Love South Yarra).

As the city received its first taste of freedom since August, when Melbourne’s sixth lockdown was opened, party animals took to the streets.

A waiter brings a round of shots to the table, as wild celebrations last well into the night in Melbourne

Premier Daniel Andrews finally agreed earlier this week to lift the severe restrictions, as the beleaguered country neared its vaccination target for 70%

Some were so sick of their locks that they made a midnight visit to the hair salons (pictured at Flaunt It salon, Truganina’s outer west).
The good news? The controversial 9pm curfew in the city has been repealed along with the 15km travel restriction.
Residents can now move freely around the Metropolitan Area, but regional travel is still not possible.
Hospitality venues like pubs, clubs, cafes and restaurants are allowed to reopen for seated and outdoor service only, with a capacity limit of 20 fully-vaccinated patrons indoors and 50 outdoors.
Before nightclubs, stand-up drinking, and dancing in venues are allowed, the vaccination rate should be at least 80 percent.
General retail will also have to wait until the next vaccination milestone, predicted to be achieved in early November, before trading can return to normal.
Non-essential shops can only operate outdoors or with the help of a permit. Click and collect
A maximum of 20 people can be accommodated indoors and 50 outdoors in entertainment venues such as cinemas or physical recreation.
Personal services such as hAfter the fashion-conscious city went for 78 consecutive days without a trim, airdressers and beauty salons are allowed to return to work with a maximum of five clients.
But anyone entering any non-essential venue in the state must prove their vaccination status upon entry when they check in via QR code with the Service Victoria app.
The green tick can also be shown in the Medicare Express app. Visitors who are unable to prove that they have had the jab may be denied entry.

Revellers seen drinking at 3 Monkeys in Chapel Street as Melbourne reopened from lockdown at midnight (pictured).

A group photo of young men poses in front the iconic Flinders Street Train Station. The lockdown lifts are used to photograph the train station. Millions finally have the right to go out late at night, with the curfew lifted.

As party-goers celebrate Melbourne’s end to its brutal stay-at home orders, there is a full bar waiting for cocktails. Masks are still required if eating or drinking.

As Melbourne opened at midnight, a huge queue gathered at Leonard’s House of Love South Yarra.
Residents can allow up to 10 visitors to their homes, while outdoor gathering limits are increased from 10 to 15.
Visitors to your home don’t need to have all their vaccines, but it is strongly recommended by the state government. Outdoor gatherings are subject to the same rules.
Funerals, religious services, and weddings can be held with 50 fully-vaccinated guests outside and 20 indoors.
Schools are for children in elementary school Year 3 to Year 11 will start returning to the classroom part-time.
Children of fully vaccinated parents will be able to reopen early childcare.
The long-awaited reopening of the airport was originally scheduled to take place on October 26th. However, premier Andrews expedited the process and praised Victorians”mighty’ efforts.

McDonald’s was packed at midnight. Customers were thrilled to be able to eat in and enjoy the first late-night meal in months.

There were some yawns but cooped-up Melburnians couldn’t wait any longer to hit the town as they lined up at Leonard’s House of Love in South Yarra

Salons can now be opened to up to five fully-vaccinated clients. Some customers even book in for midnight appointments (pictured at Truganina in Melbourne’s outer west).

A wild night is in store at at 3 Monkeys on Chapel Street as Melbourne threw off the shackles of its lockdown – which cumulatively became the longest in the week since the Covid pandemic began

Revellers celebrated from their balconies as they shouted in joy, while car horns were heard blasting in the background as overjoyed Melburnians enjoyed their first taste of freedom since August (pictured, revellers around the city).
“These are things that we can bring forward Because of the Victorian community has done so well in getting vaccinated so fast and in such great numbers,’ Mr Andrews said on Sunday when he announced the lockdown would finally end.
“I couldn’t be prouder of our community for coming forward to make these decisions to protect themselves, protect their loved ones, and protect us all from this pandemic.”
‘To allow the rules to change to open up and normalise, to get our buddies back, to focus on living our lives as normal or as close as possible to normal.
Later, Andrews tweeted: ‘Bring forward your haircut and tell Mother you’ll come over for dinner.
Melburnians have spent 262 days locked down since the pandemic in early 2020. They endured six separate stints of stay-at-home orders, with all non-essential businesses being forced to close.
Recently, the city surpassed Buenos Aires, the Argentinian capital. The most secure place in the world
In the hours leading up to midnight, the city was technically still locked down and subject to curfew. This left Melburnians trapped in what Michael O’Brien (Liberal MP) called the “twilight zone”.
He tweeted, “I can’t leave my home and break curfew for science/Covid – but I can travel anywhere in Melbourne in 40 minutes because science/Covid,”

In the hours leading up to midnight, the city was technically still locked down and subject to curfew. This left Melburnians trapped in what Michael O’Brien (Liberal MP) called the “twilight zone”.

This group of friends enjoyed martinis under the moonlight as they travelled to Melbourne’s Prahran to experience their first night of freedom.

After the state’s failure to reach its 70% Covid vaccination target, Victoria lifted its stay at-home orders on Thursday at 11:59pm (photo taken by Chapel Street residents)

Any person entering any non-essential state venue must show proof of vaccination when they check in via QR code using the Service Victoria app. (pictured, mates checking in to a Chapel Street Bar)

On Thursday, another significant milestone was reached. More than 90 state employees received their first dose. (Photo: revellers at midnight).
Hundreds were arrested for clashing police during the brutal lockdown period.
Victoria Police was also criticised for its inflexible approach to enforcing the strict lockdown restrictions.
The vast majority of the weary residents did not comply with the restrictions and went ahead to get vaccinated.
On Thursday, the state surpassed the 70% target. More than 90 people received their first dose.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison stated that the longest road had been traveled in Victoria, and that it is now that the long road really opens up tonight.
“This is not a large opening in the first step. We move cautiously, but with a deliberate approach in Australia so that we can safely expand.
“That is the key.” We want to keep our doors open as soon as we open them.

Revellers pose for photos as a joyful atmosphere sweeps Melbourne after the removal of the lockdown

Scott Morrison, Prime Minister, stated that Victoria has traveled the longest road and that long road will open up tonight. (pictured, a man enjoying a well-deserved round – and a Jaeger shot).

As excited crowds took to Melbourne’s streets, Chapel Street saw a reveller celebrating through his vehicle’s sunroof at midnight.

A group of young men prepares to throw back a shot now that fully vaccinated residents can return to the pub (pictured at Chapel Street).
Despite the success, Covid cases are still high in Victoria, despite the vaccination campaign.
On Thursday, there were 2,232 new locally acquired infections and 12 deaths.
The number of fatalities in Victoria since the pandemic has now risen to 1,005, with majority coming during the state’s disastrous second wave from July to October in 2020.
The total number of cases in Victoria since the pandemic reached Australians shores now sits at 73,151, with 22,889 infections still active.
There are currently 779 Covid patients in the state’s hospitals. 141 of those cases are in intensive and 96 are breathing through a ventilator.

The clock struck midnight, and Melbourne was locked down. Mates reunite over a few well-deserved drinks (pictured in South Yarra).

There is a huge sense of relief that this coronavirus crisis is over. However, it is still too early for people to stop wearing the face mask indoors or outside unless they are eating or drinking. (pictured, mates catch-up in Prahran).

After Melbourne had been released from lockdown, a Melbourne police officer was seen inspecting the venue to ensure that Covid restrictions were being followed.

Wild scenes took place after midnight, with revellers party-hopping into the night all across Melbourne (photo outside 3 Monkeys).

Despite the success of the vaccination campaign, Covid cases in Victoria are still stubbornly high with 2232 cases on Thursday (pictured, mates catching up in Melbourne after lockdown ended)