Canberra has seen in its 100th year with a 100 firework salute and a packed Civic party celebrating the last moments of 2012.
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Thousands of Canberrans partied into 2013 in Civic Square, where two centenary-themed fireworks displays marked the beginning of what the crowd was calling a year of celebration.
Families flocked to the 9pm display, where Japanese-inspired ''cherry blossom'' fireworks dazzled the crowd.
The midnight session was ''more rock n' roll'', Fireworks Australia director Martin Brady said, and ended with 100 fireworks shot from a device prepared specifically for the centenary show.
Australian rocker Diesel led the music line-up, but local acts Tuchasoul and Heuristic had the crowds on their feet early in the night.
Jerrabomberra resident Katrina Hampton was spending her first New Year's Eve in Civic with her daughter Ashley, 6, and son Matthew, 19 months.
''We normally go away with family this time of year so it's nice to spend it here with other families,'' she said.
''It's great, a nice family event.''
Sonia McDonnell is a regular at the Civic event and travels from Perth every year to attend.
''Our son lives here and we've come the last six years for this,'' she said.
''They don't have anything like this in Perth.
''It's so family friendly and the music is great.''
Cathy Sforcina was seeing in her second year in Canberra and said the city was starting to feel more like home.
''It's lovely here and, after moving from the Gold Coast, I'm getting used to the cold,'' she said. ''This year is a whole year of celebration and I'm really looking forward to it.''
Leanne Howe said she would not have started the city's centenary year any other way.
The Ngunnawal resident arrived in Civic early with her niece Jade Butters, nephews Aiden Butters and Liam Bolitho and four other family members.
''There's nine of us here,'' she said.
''Grandma, aunties, uncles, cousins, the whole family.
''It's our second year here and at this time of night it's family friendly - it lets the kids celebrate without it being too late, and the music is great.''
Ms Howe, a born and bred Canberran, said the centenary would be a special time for residents of the city.
''We'll definitely be hanging around for Australia Day, Canberra Day, the whole lot,'' she said.
''We love it here.''
ACT Policing said crowds at the early event had been well behaved.
EventsACT marketing manager Adelina La Vita said the number of families in Civic was higher than expected.
''We've never seen crowds like this and teeming through so early in the night as well,'' she said.
''The fireworks were just spectacular, really special and the weather has held out as well.
''It's been just a perfect evening.
''It's a great way to bring Canberra together in the one place.''