The New Year's Eve midnight fireworks were a sight to see from Mrs Macquarie's Chair, but Sydney trains descended into chaos afterwards. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

A massive flood of people wanting to catch trains home after ringing in 2019 created a crush at Central Station shortly after midnight, as thousands pushed their way onto the main concourse.

We count down the top 20 most-read stories by subscribers in 2019, and welcome your thoughts and comments.

G oing by The Sydney Morning Herald's most-read stories of 2019, the final year of the decade was marked by tragedies, both natural and man-made, and extreme weather that pummelled the harbour city and scorched the state. Two elections returned the Coalition to power at state and national levels, tourists were turned away from a popular beach, and it wouldn't be a yearly review without some public transport chaos.

Rachel Clun , Matt Bungard and Laura Chung reported passengers experienced long delays at the airport and 40 flights were cancelled due to the weather. The 11pm curfew was relaxed to allow more services to arrive later in the night, with some flights not landing until 12.30am.

The Bureau of Meteorology said Sydney could receive more than half its average March rainfall on a single day. Credit:Nick Moir

The city was battered by storms in mid-March with reports of giant hailstones, severe winds and heavy rain.

Many New Year's Eve revellers, who had earlier braved humid weather , took to social media and the comment section ( which had more than 550 posts ) to vent about the havoc.

In what could have been seen as a bad omen for those who had ushered in 2019 by the harbour, Sarah Keoghan reported thousands of passengers were left stranded after the Sydney Trains network fell into chaos overnight, with delays of up to three-and-a-half hours across the grid.

James Ruse Agricultural High School claimed the title of NSW's top school for the 24th year in a row, led by students such as Jocelin Shing-Yan Hon and Eunice Cheng .

Senior journalist Jacqueline Maley 's sketch of the pair's charm offensive in one of Australia's most affluent seats caught the attention of readers, generating more than 1600 comments .

It was all to no avail as Abbott lost the seat, with a swing of more than 13 per cent against him, propelling independent challenger Zali Steggall to Parliament.

In normal circumstances, the deployment of John Howard would occur in a marginal seat. But at Warringah Mall on May 13, the former prime minister was called in to help another former prime minister, Tony Abbott, in his bid to retain a seat that had always been in Liberal hands, and in Abbott's since 1994.

Melbourne woman Manik Suriaaratchi and her 10-year-old daughter Alexendria were killed in the blast in Negombo.

The Sri Lankan government pointed the finger at National Thowheeth Jamaath, a little-known group that security experts said promotes Islamist terrorist ideology, for the the deadliest attacks in Sri Lanka since the end of the civil war.

At least 253 people were killed and 485 people were injured on Easter Sunday when suicide bombers attacked three churches and three hotels around the capital, Colombo, and the eastern town of Batticaloa in April.

Harshwardhan Narde and Preethi Reddy were both dentists and in a relationship before police suspected he killed her prior to driving his car into a tree.

Harshwardhan Narde, the former boyfriend of Sydney dentist Preethi Reddy, whose body was found in a suitcase in March, died after he deliberately drove his car into the path of a semi-trailer six days after her death.

Emergency services were called to the worksite after a section of scaffolding about 15 to 17 metres high trapped two men. A SafeWork NSW spokeswoman said numerous tradesmen were working on the lower deck of scaffolding at the site when it collapsed.

Megan Gorrey , Rachel Clun and Carrie Fellner reported Cassaniti, a former student of Gilroy Catholic College at Castle Hill, had celebrated his 18th birthday the week before the incident.

Christopher Cassaniti, 18, was killed when scaffolding and concrete came crashing down on workers at a construction site on Epping Road at Macquarie Park on April 1.

Dr Reddy's body was found in her car, parked in Sydney's east, after she was reported missing when she didn't return to her Penrith home. Police found her body with multiple stab wounds in a suitcase in the back seat of her abandoned car almost 24 hours after Dr Narde died in the fiery collision.

Sally Rawsthorne reported that police suspected he fatally stabbed his former girlfriend, despite having had no criminal record involving violence. Minutes before the Tamworth dentist died in the fiery car crash he took a call from a friend and told them he was abandoning plans to drive to Sydney and would head home.

Our two blogs about the White Island volcano eruption and subsequent reaction engrossed readers. Forty-seven people including 24 Australians were exploring the island when the eruption occurred, sending plumes of ash 3700 metres into the sky.

The eruption at White Island as seen from a tourist boat. Credit:Lillani Hopkins

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told the nation's Parliament that serious questions needed to be answered about how the tragedy happened.

Hyams Beach on the NSW South Coast is known for its squeaky white sand, but the local council drew attention when it took the extraordinary step of turning away tourists over the last summer holidays as new figures showed the number of vehicles queuing to enter the village had soared to record highs.

Hyams Beach has been promoted as having some of the world's whitest sand, but it has become a victim of its own success. Credit:Louise Kennerley

Traffic controllers informed them the small coastal village, which has a permanent population of about 110 residents, had space for 400 vehicles and had reached capacity. Traffic counts were showing movements of up to 5000 vehicles a day in the peak holiday period.

This piece by Carrie Fellner started a fair bit of discussion with more than 200 comments and much correspondence to the Herald's letters page. President of Hyams Beach Villagers Association Mark Crowther said he hoped "something more permanent" would be in place by Christmas this year.

A severe, fast-moving thunderstorm swept over Sydney on November 26, knocking out power to nearly 45,000 customers.

Trees collapse near Davidson High School in Frenchs Forest. Credit:Nick Moir

The fallout continued for several days, with Ausgrid warning customers could remain without power over the following weekend. The damage to the network was comparable to that of a cyclone, it said.

Matt Bungard, who covered the story, reported the outages could have been fixed faster if not for budget cuts and privatisation.

Neurosurgeon Charlie Teo is revered by Australians for his ability to deliver hope and save lives. But his behaviour, as outlined in a Herald investigation by Kate McClymont in September, raised serious questions.

Neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo is adored by many Australians but his colleagues have raised serious questions. Credit:Elesa Kurtz

Of the 14 neurosurgeons and related specialists interviewed, not one questioned Dr Teo's excellent surgical skills. But the Herald revealed they raised serious questions about his judgment, narcissistic behaviour, charging financially-stressed people huge fees when some surgeries could be done for free in a public hospital, blaming others for keeping him from public hospitals when it was Dr Teo himself who had refused to operate in the public system, bad-mouthing his colleagues and inappropriate conduct in the operating theatre.

Dr Teo said he was “incredibly surprised and tremendously disappointed” by the article and rejected claims of inappropriate behaviour.

The world watched with shock as a fierce fire ripped through the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris in April.

It took hours to bring the fire at Notre-Dame under control. Credit:EPA

Experts said the combination of the structure being more than 850 years old, built with heavy timber, soaring open spaces and lacking sophisticated fire-protection systems, left firefighters with devastatingly few options once the flames got out of control.

There were 200 comments in response to this live blog helmed by Matt Bungard and Rachel Clun.

Wild weather, icy winds and a sprinkling of snow descended on parts of NSW in early June. Sydney commuters braced themselves for bitter mornings as wind gusts reached 90 kilometres per hour.

Snow falls in the Blue Mountains at Blackheath in early June. Credit:Wolter Peeters

Jenny Noyes, Sally Rawsthorne and Georgina Mitchell reported a large southerly swell pounded the coast with waves reaching almost 12 metres in some places. Several boats lost their moorings and washed onto the shore. Footage shot on board a ferry before services were cancelled showed massive waves pounding the outdoor deck. Blue Mountains residents woke up to plenty of snow.

It was a far cry from the heat and fires that would torment the state less than six months later, but we'll get to that ...

The choice of Green Book as best picture in February may have baffled many, but it certainly ensured the Oscars were the talk of the town.

Oscar winners Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody), Olivia Colman (The Favourite), Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk) and Mahershala Ali (Green Book). Credit:EPA

It was an all-encompassing effort on the blog from our team, including Melissa Singer (covering the red carpet), Karl Quinn, (who said the internet was right to be furious about Green Book's win), Michael Idato (backstage in Los Angeles) and Garry Maddox (who argued there was nothing new about drama at the Academy Awards).

More than 100,000 homes in the Sydney basin alone are within 100 metres of bushland, placing them at risk of destruction based on previous bushfire activity, Peter Hannam and Nigel Gladstone reported.

The aftermath of the October 2013 bushfires that swept through parts of Winmalee in the Blue Mountains. Credit:Dallas Kilponen

Data from consultancy Risk Frontiers identified premises exposed to extensive bush. Of the total, more than 31,500 homes on Sydney's north shore were in "at-risk" areas - from Belrose to Berowra, and south to Lane Cove - while Turramurra had the most homes nestled near bush with some 4500 residences.

The Coalition won a third term in government after Gladys Berejiklian became NSW's first elected female premier in late March.

NSW's victorious Liberal Premier Gladys Berejiklian with Prime Minister Scott Morrison on election night. Credit:James Brickwood

It was also a win for minor parties including the Greens and the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers who polled strongly, but the same couldn't be said for Labor, which failed to increase its vote across the state.

The live blog, helmed by Michaela Whitbourn, Rachel Clun and Laura Chung, drew almost 300 comments.

A policeman stands guard at the Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch. Credit:Jason South

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed her country would toughen gun laws after 28-year-old Australian Brenton Tarrant walked into two Christchurch mosques on March 15 and opened fire on worshippers with a semi-automatic weapon. He livestreamed the attack, during which he killed 51 Muslims and injured dozens more.

Subscribers flocked to our blogs, one on the day of the shooting (helmed by Sally Rawsthorne and Jenny Noyes) and one in the aftermath (by Rachel Clun and Jenny Noyes).

Scott Morrison said he "always believed in miracles" and he counted among them his party's election win on May 18. The Coalition defied opinion polls to retain power after a party room leadership spill went in his favour seven months earlier.

Flanked by his wife and daughters, Scott Morrison declares victory in front of the party faithful on May 18. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

In the live blog she co-helmed with Craig Butt, Latika Bourke said it had "truly been a spectacular political upset". And for the Prime Minister, his decision to take on former leader Malcolm Turnbull the previous August was vindicated. For Bill Shorten, however, it signalled the end of his time as Labor leader.

The blog generated more than 1500 comments.

Brave bystanders, some of whom used chairs and a milk crate to restrain a knife-wielding man, were hailed as heroes of the "highest order" for ending "terrifying carnage" in Sydney's CBD on August 13 that left one woman dead, another injured and parts of the city in lockdown.

Brave bystanders used chairs and a milk crate to restrain a knife-wielding man in Sydney's CBD in August. Credit: Nine News, Seven News

Natassia Chrysanthos helmed the blog shortly after news broke of the man allegedly seen wielding a knife near the corner of Clarence and King streets.

Mert Ney, 21, faces several charges, including murder and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and is due to appear in court in February.

This blog, by Rachel Clun and Jenny Noyes, on the worst day of the NSW bushfires so far generated more than 250 comments and was one of five live articles from the Herald concerning the crisis.

Firefighters are overwhelmed by flames and embers at the bushfire in Orangeville. Credit:Nick Moir

A "catastrophic" fire warning was issued for the Sydney, Illawarra and Hunter areas including the Blue Mountains and Central Coast on November 12. More than 600 schools were closed across the state and 12 homes were lost on that day.

Overall, at time of publication, more than 700 homes have been confirmed lost and 2.7 million hectares burnt.

Other live articles on November 9, November 11, December 5, and December 10, covering NSW's bushfires illustrate our commitment to our subscribers and readers to deliver news as it happens. The Herald continues to provide open access to our bushfires coverage – meaning that for the duration of this crisis, bushfire stories are free for all readers. You can access the Herald's bushfire coverage here.