The official Australia premiere after-party was held at Sydney's newest hotspot, Ivy, and attended by the cast and crew of Australia

After the 165-minute film finished, buses ferried the crowd to the Ivy and the party began about 11pm. By 11.30pm, Baz Luhrmann, Catherine "CM" Martin and Hugh Jackman (with wife Deborra-lee Furness) were celebrating and accepting well-wishers. Hugh strode up onto the stage and took the microphone.

He congratulated the crew, the cast, "CM" and finally Baz, whom he thanked effusively, adding that his getting up and speaking was a surprise to Baz.

"I haven't had too many drinks - the Drover doesn't drink - but I have noticed that that's a piano. Oh, and here's John Foreman [musical director of Australian Idol and 16-year veteran of Australian television]." As John sat at the piano and played the opening bars of I Still Call Australia Home, the famous Peter Allen song from The Boy From Oz, Hugh noted, "There's never been a more appropriate time to sing this. Don't kill me, Baz."

He launched with enthusiasm into the song, exhorting the audience to sing along while Baz and Catherine were still surrounded by people. At one stage Catherine did sway her arms in the air like the rest of the crowd.

After the number, John Foreman told WHO the performance was "very
spontaneous. Hugh rang through about half an hour ago and said, 'We'll do the first verse, then a key change, then the rest.' "

Baz Lurhmann spent time on a Blackberry reading the first round of reviews, happily reflecting in a UK Times review of 4-and-a-half stars.

By Helen Martin

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