NSW: Paris parties in Sydney
By Katherine Field and Aletha McHalick01 Jan 2009 12:40 AM
SYDNEY, Jan 1 AAP - Guests waited for hours in Sydney for international party princess Paris Hilton to arrive for a New's Year Eve party.
Hilton, believed to have pocketed about $100,000 to attend the party at Sydney's Piano Room, arrived shortly before midnight (AEDT) in a short, sparkling metallic dress.
She sat in a private VIP room with selected guests including her sister Nicky Hilton and Nicky's boyfriend David Katzenberg.
Hilton hob-nobbed with Australian singer Amy Pearson as punters who had hoped to catch a glimpse of the US socialite missed out.
More than 800 people turned out at the eastern Sydney venue and its neighbouring nightclub Trademark in the hope of meeting the hotel heiress.
She spent the day at Bondi Beach before dining with Aussie DJ Kaz James and friends at Otto's restaurant at Woolloomooloo.
Other guests at the party hosted by online social networking site The Bongo Virus included designer Wayne Cooper, MTV host Ruby Rose, Cheyenne Tozzi and boyfriend Koby Abberton, Olympian Stephanie Rice, radio shock jock Kyle Sandilands and his wife Tamara Jaber, actor Nick Giannopolis and the Chaser's Chris Taylor.
Pop twins The Veronicas attracted attention wearing black and flanked by two burly security guards as police also roamed the party.
At a press conference earlier on Wednesday, Hilton said she was enjoying her trip.
"I am very excited to be Down Under. I love it here in Australia," she told reporters.
While the leggy blonde will be partying, she was adamant she wasn't courting any male admirers while in town.
"No, I'm just single. I'm here on a girl's trip," she said.
The 27-year-old has already made an impression on Acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who said she supported Ms Hilton's $5,560 shopping splurge in Melbourne earlier this week.
"I think that Ms Hilton is onto something very important, which is whether or not you want to have a holiday that's about fashion or a big night out, Australia's a great place to do it," Ms Gillard told said.
"I heard that a politician said that," Ms Hilton responded.
"I thought that was very sweet and it's true.
"I'm in Australia, I think it's important to help out, you know, the economy out here, everywhere in the world.
"And what's wrong with a doing a little shopping?
"It's New Year's. I need a New Year's dress."
But Ms Hilton, who favours Australian designers Sass & Bide and Ksubi, said she would be wearing Italian glad rags on Wednesday night.
"Tonight, I'm going to change a couple of times, but I'm going to be wearing this really beautiful vintage gown by Versace," she said.
Hilton will party into the wee hour of the new year before attending a function on Thursday at Bondi Icebergs Club.
