Melbourne punters have celebrated their first 'Freedom Friday' after the end of a a world record-breaking lockdown by taking to the city's pubs for plenty of beverages, restaurants for celebratory dinners and beauty salons for well-needed treatments.
Victoria officially lifted its stay-at-home orders at 11.59pm on Thursday after 262 days in lockdown after the Covid-riddled state reached its 70 per cent vaccination target.
As the state enjoys its first day of freedom, the surge in vaccination rates could also mean an increase in the number of visitors allowed inside homes and the caps on indoor venues being made larger, decisions Daniel Andrews' government will decide on Saturday.
Melbourne punters have celebrated their first 'Freedom Friday' after the end of a world record-breaking lockdown by taking to the city
Victoria officially lifted its stay-at-home orders at 11.59pm on Thursday after a record-breaking 262 days in lockdown after the Covid-riddled state reached its 70 per cent vaccination target (Pictured: Two women enjoying their first Freedom Day drinks in Collingwood)
State Ministers and health chiefs will meet on Saturday to review the state's roadmap for when the 80 per cent vaccination target is reached.
They will look at possibly increasing the number of guests allowed at homes, which is currently at 10 people.
The limit of 150 people allowed indoors at restaurants, pubs and weddings once the state hits 80 per cent double dose rates could also be boosted.
The cabinet is expected to focus on rules around indoor events specifically during the meeting, the Herald Sun reports.
The surge in vaccination rates could also see more positive news such as the increase in the number of visitors allowed at homes and the caps on indoor venues (Pictured: Couple enjoying their first day of freedom)
State Ministers and health chiefs will meet on Saturday to review the state's roadmap for when the 80 per cent vaccination target is reached (Pictured: Woman's phone checked at a restaurant)
More than five thousands Melbourne punters will be able to watch trackside at Victoria's Derby Day at Flemington Racecourse next weekend, which will help kick start the events industry once again.
The expected review of the roadmap comes as residents across the CBD flocked to pubs, cafes, restaurants and beauty salons.
With fully vaccinated residents finally free, Melburnians gathered across the city to enjoy their first taste of freedom since August.
Large queues of eager residents lined up to eat at their favourite restaurants, while those lucky to snag a table reservation enjoyed biting into their first meal at a restaurant in months.
Diners at restaurant Claypots Barbarossa were fortunate enough to be serenaded by a live band while they soaked in the Freedom Day atmosphere.
Outdoor diners filled restaurants in the CBD's buzzing Hardware Lane as residents rejoiced at being able to leave their homes.
The expected review of the roadmap comes as residents across the CBD flock to pubs, cafes, restaurants and beauty salons (Pictured: People seen lining up outside a restaurant)
Large queues of eager residents lining up waiting to eat at their favourite restaurants were seen across Melbourne's CBD
Those lucky to snag a table reservation enjoyed food and drinks on their first day of freedom
Diners at restaurant Claypots Barbarossa were fortunate enough to be serenaded by a live band while they soaked in the Freedom Day atmosphere
Outdoor diners filled restaurants in the CBD's buzzing Hardware Lane as residents rejoiced at being able to leave their homes
Friends finally reunited at pubs for pints of beer and glasses of wine, with groups of rowdy revellers seen in St Kilda and Collingwood enjoying their freedom beverages.
While Melburnians flocked to bars and restaurants, others were keen to finally get their beauty treatments in order at local nail salons.
Premier Dan Andrews stepped out to enjoy Freedom Day celebrations with his wife after Melbourne endured the world's longest lockdown - but his festivities didn't include 'getting on the beers'.
Mr Andrews opted for a more tame celebration on Friday morning with his family.
Instead of 'getting on the beers' - a phrase made famous by Mr Andrews during a press conference in March 2020 - he got on the white wines with his wife Catherine as they caught up with a mother's group at Drinkwell in Melbourne's lively suburb of Fitzroy.
'Catching up with the mother's group on Zoom just isn't the same,' Mr Andrews wrote on Twitter.
Friends finally reunited at pubs for pints of beer and glasses of wine, with groups of rowdy revellers seen in St Kilda and Collingwood enjoying their freedom beverages
Two women happily pose for a photo as they they celebrate Freedom Day with a glass of wine
While Melburnians flocked to bars and restaurants, others were keen to finally receive their beauty treatments at nail salons
Women were captured at nail salons as they looked to receive some glam treatment to prepare for future celebratory outings
Two women are pictured in the park enjoying a picnic with a bottle of wine
Instead of 'getting on the beers', Mr Andrews got on the white wines with his wife as they caught up with a mother's group
The premier and his wife were seen laughing and enjoying the company of the mother's group and their children as they sat at a table filled with food and drinks
'Today Teddy, Naomi, Monty and their mums finally met up - in person. And we thought that called for a celebration.'
The premier and his wife were seen laughing and enjoying the company of the mother's group and their children as they sat at a table filled with beverages.
Mr Andrews even held one of the children on his lap during the visit as everyone in attendance enjoyed their first outing.
Before his post-lockdown celebrations on Friday, Mr Andrews took to Twitter to post a series of gushing tweets to mark the easing of restrictions and revealed how 'bloody proud' he was of Victorians.
'As my kids say - there's a big vibe today,' the premier wrote.
Mr Andrews even held one of the children named Monty on his lap at the table during the visit as everyone in attendance enjoyed their first outing
Before his post-lockdown celebrations on Friday, Mr Andrews took to Twitter to post a series of gushing tweets to mark the easing of restrictions
Premier Daniel Andrews described how he is 'bloody proud' of Victorians after reaching this significant day
'You can feel the optimism. You can sense the pride in what's been achieved.
'And after everything it's taken to get here, we absolutely deserve to feel that way,' he added.
Mr Andrews said that the state went through a difficult time together, but the sacrifices have allowed them to open up again safely.
'I'm trying not to sound like some kind of soppy Dad here, but I am proud, bloody proud of this state,' he continued.
'We've gone through such a hard time together, this pandemic has been exhausting in every sense of the word.
'And the fact that we're here today, and opening up, is only because of the sacrifices made by every one of us.'
But, the premier reminded his constituents that the pandemic isn't over, and things won't simply return to normal right away.
'People won't just spring back from this either, the pandemic isn't over, and feeling a bit anxious about all this is normal,' Mr Andrews wrote.
'So if you're heading out today - please just remember that this will take time, not everyone will be so ready to throw open their front door.'
But, the premier reminded people that the pandemic isn't over, and things won't simply return to normal in a short time (Pictured: Premier Andrews greets Bianca Shah in a
