A giant all-seeing eye shone over Sydney last night as more than 1.6 million people gathered around the harbour to welcome in 2014, and many millions more tuned in to screens across the globe.

The 72-metre-wide illumination, formed the centrepiece of the Sydney Harbour Bridge Effect and was twice as big as in previous years. New technology allowed organisers to place an eyelid made from LED tubes around the effect so the eye could blink.

Special fireworks also launched from four sails of Sydney Opera House to mark its 40th anniversary.