Video: 'Monkees Arrival in Sydney and Press Conference 9-16-68 RARE Far East Tour!' (Melbourne arrival at 15:52)

(Monday, September 16, 1968, just before 8:00 a.m. Australian Eastern Standard Time) — 500 fans with fireworks and sparkers greeted The Monkees as they arrived this morning in Sydney, Australia, for a tour of the Far East.

The band held an hour-long press conference at Miller’s Brighton Hotel at Botany Bay before flying on to Melbourne (at 11:00 a.m. AEST), the site of their first concert.

Video: 'Monkees-Press Conference, Sydney, Australia 1968'

Video: 'Monkees-Press Conference, Sydney, Australia 1968'

Video: 'The Monkees In Melbourne, Australia 1968' (Melbourne arrival at 0:00-1:25)