A high-pitched whistle pierced the air, explosions of colour rocked the sky and above it all came the distinct sound of an Aboriginal didgeridoo.
Australian classics such as Waltzing Matilda may have gotten crowds into the Australia Day spirit but the undoubted pinnacle of last night's annual fireworks event was a traditionally based remix of the national anthem.
The beat of traditional clap-sticks mixed seamlessly with modern-day pop rhythms yet the words of Advance Australia Fair remained in plain English - so everybody could sing along.
But making the highlight even more special for thousands of Canberrans at Lake Burley Griffin was the layering of traditional Ngunnawal phrases between the choruses.
Musical director Andrew Bee said despite the song being launched last year, last night was the first time the remix had been used against the backdrop of the Australia Day fireworks.
''We started with traditional hits like Paul Kelly but the use of such strong traditional elements in the remix was really to create a more reflective moment for the crowd, to stop and think about Australia and what it means to all of us,'' he said.
It was the perfect highlight for an event that has grown bigger and better than ever.
The number of launch pads on the water doubled to four and flares were also launched into the air and down towards the lake from the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge.
Cooler weather did not deter the crowds, despite the capital recording its coldest Australia Day since 2005.
Temperatures hit a high of 27.3 degrees at 2.18pm and cooled down rapidly towards the night, dropping to a comfortable 20 degrees around the launch time.
Threatening clouds held back on releasing rain, though, leaving dozens of families to soak up the atmosphere.
Drawing almost as much attention as the fireworks were sisters Lauren and Rachel Hannaford, who'd painted their bodies in brightly coloured food dye to get into the Aussie spirit.
The pair had travelled four hours from Walla Walla, NSW, to take part in the capital's annual festivities.
''We've done a tour of Canberra and had so many people asking for photos with us, probably more than a dozen,'' Rachel, 15, said.
''They kept calling me 'Avatar' and 'Smurf'.''
Mum Helen Hannaford said the family had a barbecue at Casuarina Sands, visited the Canberra Space Centre at Tidbinbilla, drove through the areas hit by the 2003 bushfires, out to Tharwa and arrived back in time for the fireworks.
''We've always loved Canberra and to be able to celebrate Australia Day here, in the national capital, has just been so exciting,'' she said.
''I think it's easy for us to complain about this and whinge about that, but when you look at the big picture on days like today, you really do realise that we live in the best country in the world.''
This reporter is on Twitter: @breanna_tucker
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