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Hundreds of people have filled the Bendigo CBD to ring in the new year.
Venues have put on stellar entertainment with musicians playing in laneways and on balconies.
The Piano Bar laneway was full with pianist Mark Nunsis, singer Bec O'Sullivan and drag queen Polly Filler entertaining the crowd.
At the Metropolitan Hotel people filled the Bull Street outdoor dining area with DJs providing entertainment while upstairs acoustic acts performed.
Yard Bird bar in the Shamrock Hotel also provided acoustic entertainment for people enjoying meals as they looked over Rosalind Park.
Earlier
Venue owners in the Bendigo CBD don't expect the re-introduced restrictions to stem the tide of New Year's Eve celebrations tonight.
The state government announced masks would be required in all indoor spaces from 5pm today following the discovery of eight new COVID-19 cases in Victoria since yesterday.
Metropolitan Hotel owner Andrew Lethlean said with Victorians required to carry masks anyway, it was a small change.
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"Realistically, it's an added thing," he said. "You have to carry masks anyway.
"The patrons are totally aware of restrictions and most venues are pretty good.
"From our point of view, we will be doing the COVID-safe things and making sure everyone is scanned and checked in and are maintaining, or trying to abide by, social distancing in large crowds.
"The biggest thing for us will be from midnight when the outdoor areas close. It will be full inside as well, so some people will have nowhere to go."
Piano Bar co-owner Aaron Skinner said the outdoor setup of their laneway venue would mean there are no changes for patrons this evening.
"It's not going to affect to us as outdoor venue in the laneway," he said. "All the team will be wearing masks and it will be optional for customers because we're outdoors. It's all going ahead as planned.
"We're very keen to celebrate the end of this year. Everyone has had a shit year basically, there's no other way to describe it, particularly in the hospitality sector which was one of the hardest hit by COVID."
Both the Piano Bar and Metropolitan Hotel are expecting full venues tonight.
On Facebook, the Golden Vine urged patrons to make sure they wore a mask.
Related: Bendigo gets ready to see out 2020
"Please if you are joining us for New Years celebrations tonight, make sure you wear a mask," their post read. "This must be worn at all times you are inside, apart from when eating or drinking."
Restrictions announced by the state government include compulsory masks indoors and no private gatherings above 15 people from 5pm.
It meant some people were forced to cull their guest list from the previous limit of 30 following the government announcement this morning.
"So, if you are planning a party tonight you will need to reduce your numbers from 30 down to 15," acting premier and Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan said.
This afternoon, Ms Allan announced the Victorian-NSW border would close from 11.59pm on January 1 as both states worked to control fresh outbreaks of coronavirus.
Five new cases were found in Victoria on Thursday, and three on Wednesday. More than 70 people are now in isolation as a result of the Victorian cluster.