Anzac Day: Melbourne and Victoria live coverage

MELBURNIANS gathered in huge numbers despite rain to mark the 100th anniversary of the first landings at Gallipoli. See the best of social media

MELBURNIANS stood at the Dawn Service and march in good spirits despite rain and cold conditions on the 100th anniversary of the first landings at Gallipoli.

Many woke as early as 2am to secure a spot at the Shrine of Remembrance.

They were unfazed by the consistent rain - official count placing attendance at 80,000.

Young children could be seen on shoulders asking questions about a war unknown to them and older participants wore medals with pride.

Tears and soft sniffles could be heard by those who were moved by the stories of great sacrifice.

Many took a moment to lay personal tributes after the ceremony before lining barricades on St Kilda Rd for the parade.

A constant applause could be heard echoing through the wet streets as servicemen and women marched with humility.

People were piled 10-deep against the barriers outside Flinders Street Station as the march started at 9am.

The parade featured beautiful classic cars such as Mustangs and vintage Holdens.

The vehicles carried important passengers, including some of the last surviving men and women from the early Australian conflicts.

The rain continued intermittently but failed to deter the hardy, with the route awash with a sea of umbrellas.

John Tucker, 96, who served as a doctor in WWII in New Guinea and Borneo, sat tall in a jeep for the parade.

He was buoyed from the sidelines by family including great-grandaughter Isabelle Lean, 6, who was born on his 90th birthday.

“We are here to see our great grandad march,” she said.

Despite the drizzle, Maddison Lean, 12, said it was a special moment for them all.

“It’s pretty cool, we know he was a doctor in the war,” she said.

“We have come to support him.

“I reckon he’ll be grateful we are here, and we are grateful for the opportunity.”

The family have passed down his rich and colourful wartime stories through the generations after they were immortalised in his memoirs.

St John’s Ambulance Commander Susan Fayers said there were more than 160 paramedic volunteers along the parade route but they only had to attend to several minor incidents.

“We treated about 30-40 people up until about 8 this morning,” Commander Fayers said.

“It was just minor things - people feeling faint because they haven’t had breakfast, and because of the early hour of the day - it always happens.”

Dandenong RSL president John Wells praised the record crowd that turned out for its dawn service in Melbourne’s outer east.

More than 1000 people gathered around the community shrine where there was an increased police presence on the centenary of the Gallipoli landings.

“I don’t think I could give you a good estimate of the numbers today but they’re certainly up I’d say by about 25 per cent,” Mr Wells said.

“We’d normally get 800-1200 but I’d say today we were well beyond that.

“I think it’s partly that it’s the centenary and partly that there was a sense of some sort of threat.

“There were a few people that said, ‘I’m coming this year because no one is going to make me stay away.’”

- with Elissa Doherty and Sophie Smith