Dignitaries gather at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as the closing ceremony begins with the Australian national anthem

And the party is soon in full swing as Grinspoon guitarist Joe Hansen makes a spectacular entrance

Ballerina dancers, dressed in Australian Rules Football team colours, swirl around the arena

Meanwhile, acrobats perform gymnastic feats in large rings as they drop into the stadium

The extravaganza continues with the message I Love Melbourne spelt out for all the Commonwealth to see

A giant inverted globe, with Australia on top of the world, is lowered as each of the competing nations' flags are raised

The Commonwealth Games Federation flag is passed from Melbourne to 2010 host city Delhi in India

And Indian dancers give the Commonwealth a taste of what is to come with a Bollywood-style performance

It is then the duty of His Royal Highness Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, to officially declare the games closed

Australian swimmer Michael Klim offers thanks on behalf of the athletes before he is somewhat rudely interrupted...

...the interruption comes from none other than Dame Edna Everage who adds her own unique message to proceedings

And then the fireworks begin in earnest to bring the Commonwealth Games to a spectacular climax

Crowds outside the stadium gather on the banks of the river Yarra to witness the breathtaking display

Back inside the MCG, athletes and Dame Edna Everage impersonators bid their own farewells from the friendly games