Australian festival relocated as bushfire burns out of control

The Victorian branch of Australia's Falls Festival has been moved from its Lorne home as an out-of-control bushfire continues to burn on the Surf Coast, a few hours from Melbourne.

Festival organisers announced the New Year's Eve event, which features Disclosure, Bloc Party, RÜFÜS, Opiuo and more, would move to Geelong's Mt Duneed Estate, about an hour away, as the Lorne site was too high risk.

More than 100 homes were destroyed by the fire, which ignited after a lightning strike last weekend, on Christmas Day in hot, dry and windy weather and local communities were evacuated.

It was unclear whether the festival would go ahead as the fire continued to rage, but after 24 hours of negotiations with emergency services and local councils Falls was able to secure its new, temporary home.

Attendees who would rather attend Falls in Marion Bay, Tasmania, or Byron Bay, New South Wales, are able to switch their tickets to their preferred destination, however no refunds will be offered to Lorne ticket holders.

Revised event information will be emailed to those with tickets to Falls Lorne over the next 24 hours. For more information, head to the festival's website.

Falls Festival takes place at Geelong, Marion Bay and Byron Bay from December 28 - January 1, 2015/16.