The ancient pulsating drone of a didgeridoo signalled the rumbling beginning to a contentious day that was marked by celebration, commemoration and protests in Victoria.
Victorians braved the early hours of Friday to attend the We-Akon Dilinja dawn ceremony in St Kilda which opened activities on Australia's national day.
Spectators were treated to readings and songs in Aboriginal language as political leaders offered their reflections.
Federal Victorian MP Zoe Daniel acknowledged the pain and hurt caused by a difficult year on the pathway to reconciliation following the defeat of the voice referendum.
"This task may seem harder now but today is about coming together to heal from pain, to accept, and to acknowledge our history and to celebrate survival," she said.
At the official flag-raising ceremony held at Government House, Premier Jacinta Allan recognised the Australian spirit of looking out for one another in hard times.
"A spirit we've seen on full display over the past few weeks as we've seen communities defend homes, fill sandbags and build flood levee banks," she said.
"Today is a celebration of all that we are and all that we can be. It's also a day to reflect on what makes Australia so special."
However, the premier acknowledged that for some Victorians today isn't a day of celebration.
"The story of Australia is incomplete without recognising 60,000 years and 2500 generations," she said.
"We acknowledge for many in our community this day is difficult."
Victorians should reflect on how they choose to celebrate Australia as Governor Margaret Gardner noted the January 26 date only became Australia's national public holiday in 1994.
"The date chosen marks the landing of the First Fleet in Sydney Harbour in 1788," she said.
"It is unambiguously the founding date for the colony of NSW."
In Melbourne, more than 35,000 people descended on state parliament for Invasion Day protests before marching to Flinders Street Station and staging a sit-in.
City roads and tram lines were shut down for more than four hours as demonstrators called for change.
Many spoke of the need to urgently reverse rates of Indigenous deaths in custody with calls coming from a markedly younger generation of leaders.
Police said there were no major issues and the rally was largely peaceful.
A statue of Captain Cook was sawn off at the feet and graffitied in St Kilda on Thursday.
For others, the Australia Day public holiday was a chance to rest and enjoy world-class sport at the Australian Open.
Mother and son Carolyn and Kevin were hoping to catch a glimpse of Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic's match at Melbourne Park.
The pair found the atmosphere at Federation Square which hosted an Australia Day program was good except for the flies.
As a Brit, Kevin understood the significance of when the convict ships arrived on Australian shores in 1788.
"So some people are all about it and some are very sensitive," he told AAP.
A 21-gun salute rang out at the Shrine of Remembrance to mark a gesture of friendship and trust.
In the skies above, heritage aircraft from the air force did a flypast over Government House, Federation Square, and the Shrine of Remembrance to mark the national day.
