Mans Zelmerloew celebrates winning the 60th annual Eurovision Song Contest for Sweden.
Australia's hopes of winning the 60th annual Eurovision Song Contest have been dashed at the last with Sweden storming to the top of the leaderboard and victory.
The win secures the crown of Europe's highest profile music competition which was at risk of being spirited to the other side of the world for the first time in six decades.
Sweden's song Heroes sung by M ns Zelmerl w topped the Eurovision leaderboard. In winning Sweden defeated a handful of serious contenders including Australia's Guy Sebastian who finished fifth overall Italian popera trio Il Volo and Russia's Polina Gagarina.
Making world history Guy Sebastian represents Australia in the Eurovision finals with his performance of Tonight Again.
Accepting the Eurovision trophy Sweden's M ns Zelmerl w said he was thrilled with the win.
I have so much to say right now I am so extremely happy he said.
Thank you for voting for me and supporting me. I just want to say we are our heroes no matter who we are who we love what we believe in.
Though it has not been officially confirmed there is backstage speculation that the Swedish city of Stockholm will host the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest.
Sweden has hosted the competition on five previous occasions.
The city of Stockholm hosted it in 1975 and 2000 the city of Gothenburg hosted it in 1985 and the city of Malm hosted it in 1992 and 2013.
Hosted in the Austrian capital Vienna this year's Eurovision Song Contest saw 40 countries compete for the crown.
Of those 40 countries 13 were culled through two semi finals sending a total of 27 countries competed in the final.
Five countries the so called big five France Germany Italy Spain and the UK automatically qualified for the final as did host Austria and Australia which was given a wildcard into the final.
Sebastian drew a relatively weak position in the final line up performing 13th out of 27.
One of peculiarities of the Eurovision Song Contest is that the audience votes are only accepted once all the songs have been performed meaning later performances are fresher in the memory of viewers.
Last year's Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst performed on the night and was also a backstage host. PHOTO Reuters
It was a big Eurovision for Australia.
In addition to Sebastian as their official entry the Armenian entry the group Geneaology featured an Armenian Australian the opera singer Mary Jean O'Doherty Basmadjian.
The Russian song A Million Voices was co written by an Australian Katrina Noorbergen who also sang backing vocals on the performance.
And the German song Black Smoke was co written by an Australian songwriter Tonino Speciale.
Guy Sebastian represented Australia as a one off wildcard entry to celebrate the contest's 60th anniversary. PHOTO Reuters
The three hour telecast was hosted by Austrian television presenters Alice Tumler Mirjam Weichselbraun and Arabella Kiesbauer.
Last year's winner Conchita Wurst was the show's backstage host presenting from the area where the national delegations are seated inside Vienna's Stadthalle.
Among the highlights of the show were a stunning performance from Serbia's Bojana Stamenov singing Beauty Never Lies and Cyprus's John Karayiannis with the power ballad One Thing I Should Have Done.
The win means Sweden will host the competition next year. Under the rules of Eurovision the winning country becomes next year's host country.
Australia's votes gave one point to Georgia two to Israel three to Estonia four to Norway five to Serbia six to Belgium seven to Latvia and eight to Italy.
Their 10 points went to Russia and 12 or douze points went to Sweden.
Had Australia won SBS would have co hosted the 2016 competition in a European city.
Prior to the event SBS managing director Michael Ebeid had held discussions with several broadcasters to put a plan in place in case Australia won.
Australia was awarded its wild card into the final in February.
The event's governing body the European Broadcasting Union said at the time Australia could proceed directly into the final to not reduce the chances of the current semi final participants ... and because of the one off nature of Australia's participation.
EUROVISION 2015 THE TOP FIVE
1. Sweden M ns Zelmerl w Heroes 365 points
2. Russia Polina Gagarina A Million Voices 303 points
3. Italy Il Volo Grande Amore 292 points
4. Belgium Loic Nottet Rhythm Inside 217 points
5. Australia Guy Sebastian Tonight Again 196 points
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