Australia honours Anzacs

A man places a poppy on the WW2 Roll of Honour after the Anzac Day dawn service at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Photo / Getty Images

Tens of thousands of Australians have gathered at dawn services across the country this morning to commemorate the Anzac spirit and pay tribute to the nation's fallen soldiers.

In Canberra, threatening rain and blustery cold westerly winds failed to deter a big turnout of about 20,000 people, including Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, his wife Therese Rein and Governor-General Quentin Bryce.

Hundreds of war veterans were among those who started arriving at the Australian War Memorial from about 4.30am, described by navy chaplain Collin Acton as a "diverse bunch of people".

Mr Acton described the moment as "something special, something precious".

"A sacred moment."

He recalled the sacrifices made by the original Anzacs, 94 years ago today, at Gallipoli and the thousands who have followed them to their deaths in numerous conflicts since.

In Sydney, thousands of people paused for a minute's silence at the Cenotaph.

Dignitaries and members of the public laid wreaths around the memorial in Martin Place after a bugler sounded the Last Post and as Reveille was played to symbolise a new beginning.

In Melbourne, young families made up a large part of the crowd, estimated at 35,000, at the Shrine of Remembrance.

Anna Grima and her 10-year-old daughter, who attended the service, described it as fantastic and moving.

"We just decided last night we wanted to do it.

"My daughter pushed for us to do it," Ms Grima said.

Kokoda veteran Harry Murphy attended the service with four generations of his family.

"He has not missed a dawn service since he came back in 1945," his daughter Beverly Power said.

"He only missed last year because he was in hospital but we all came in his place."

In Brisbane, nearly 20,000 people gathered in Anzac Square to remember those who fought for Australia.

Queensland Governor Penelope Wensley paid tribute to soldiers who had fought in past battles as well as those who are serving the country today.

"We remember those who sacrificed their lives in service of our country," she told the crowd.

"We remember another war 94 years ago at Gallipoli where the noise of gunfire and shelling ripped the air and echoed off the cliffs across the darkened sea where the Anzacs fought so bravely and so many lost their lives.

"Since last Anzac Day we have lost more Australian sons to conflict and we hold a special place in our hearts for their families today.

"Lest we forget."

The Brisbane ceremony had a special kiwi flavour.

The New Zealanders led the march, for the first time.

Kiwi Vietnam veteran Bruce Weir, 64, who now lives on the Gold Coast, says it's a great day for New Zealand while paying homage to lost mates.

"It's fantastic the Kiwis are leading the parade this year - it's nice to recognise that Kiwis fought alongside the Aussies," he said as he waited to march.

"It's so important to remember the mates I've lost in the war and the mates I've lost since."

Former green beret Norm Phillips, 88, from Gympie, who fought as a commando in Papua New Guinea in the fifth company, said he's lucky to be alive.

"Two of my mates were killed beside me and I managed to survive and it's a privilege to be here today so all their efforts weren't in vain."

School marching bands, police on horseback and a variety of military personnel are marching in the Brisbane parade.

In Adelaide, more than 5,000 people gathered at the war memorial with the RSL this year providing two large screens to help more people see the ceremony.

It was probably the largest crowd of the past 25 years, with few deterred by the cold and threatening conditions.

Among those to attend were members of the Port Adelaide AFL side that lost to St Kilda at AAMI Stadium on Friday night in what has become a regular fixture of the Anzac round.

In Hobart, about 2,000 people gathered at the Cenotaph to stand in silence to remember those who died.

They listened to schoolboy Davis Allie's reading of Kemal Ataturk's message to the mothers of the Gallipoli dead.

And the 11-year-old read a Tasmanian soldier's postcard home to his mother from the Western Front.

In New Zealand, thousands braved at-times wet and windy weather to remember fallen ancestors at a series of Anzac Day dawn services throughout the country.

Australians, New Zealanders and others will gather for a dawn service in Gallipoli in a few hours' time.

Meanwhile, the traditional Anzac Day parades are under way around Australia.

- AAP