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Beachgoers flocked to Bondi,where temperatures surpassed 35 degrees on Sunday.Credit:Jessica Hromas

The previous high for October 1 recorded for Sydney Airport was in 1998,when the temperature reached 34.3 degrees,the bureau’s senior meteorologist Angus Hines said.

The heat sweeping across Sydney was caused by a “heat bubble” that formed last week in Western Australia,and 40km/h north-westerlies offered little reprieve as the hot air mass swamped Sydney.

“Through the course of the weekend we’ve had a weak cold front move eastwards across southern Australia and that has been pulling the warm air along with it,” Hines said.

On the day that marked the beginning of the statuary bushfire danger period,the heat sparked extreme fire danger across much of the state,including in Greater Sydney and the Hunter.

More than 85 fires burned in NSW and 39 were out of control on Sunday evening.

Firefighters leapt on three grass fires that flared in western Sydney,including a blaze near Mount Druitt that burned close to shops and the electoral office of Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic.

Two fires in the Snowy Monaro area and one out-of-control blaze in the Shoalhaven’s Bawley Point triggered watch and act warnings from the NSW Rural Fire Service,which urged nearby residents to prepare to enact their bushfire survival plans.

Temperatures at the NRL grand final – the hottest since observations have been kept at Olympic Park – peaked at 36 degrees shortly after the women’s grand final between Newcastle and the Gold Coast kicked off.

Queues at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.Credit:Brent Lewin

A strong northerly breeze at ground level eased the strain on players in both the NRLW fixture and the preceding State Championship game,which kicked off at 3.55 and 1.20 respectively.

Drinks breaks were not incorporated into either game,but Newcastle kept a slushie machine operating on the sideline and mist fans were used to keep players cool.

NRLW players and coaches were unfazed by the conditions,although several players went down with cramps late in the game.

Seventy-nine-year-old South Sydney staffer Charlie Gallico may have been the hardest working man on the day,donning his Reggie the Rabbit mascot outfit for the Rabbitohs state championship game against Brisbane Tigers.

Broncos fans keep cool in the shade ahead of the 2023 NRL Grand Final at Accor Stadium,where temperatures hit 35.5 degrees.Credit:Getty

Gallico completed his duties in the sweltering mascot suit as usual before taking an early mark with 15 minutes to go given Souths were home and hosed by that point.

“It was pretty warm but I’m used to it after 23 years,” Gallico said.

“The hottest game I’ve done was in Cairns,40 degrees with humidity and I went the full 80 minutes. I did 15 minutes of the second half. The crowd was quiet so I took an early mark. I’ll be back next year again,don’t worry.”

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