Thousands of people lined the streets of Albany on Saturday for a series of events marking 100 years since the departure of the Anzac fleet to to fight in World War I.
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Twitter and other social media outlets lit up with pictures of the Troop March which got under way at 9am.
Among those taking part in the parade were representatives of the Australian and New Zealand Defence Forces and veterans.
The Prime Ministers of Australia and New Zealand, Tony Abbott and John Key, Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove and West Australian Premier Colin Barnett were among the dignitaries looking on.
The Premier told 6PR Radio "there are huge crowds and a wonderful atmosphere and it is a wonderful tribute to the first Anzacs who departed Albany in a 40 ship convoy 100 years ago to the day."
Following the Troop March a commemorative service was held in Anzac Park on the edge of the harbour.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott addressed the crowd of 40,000 people saying the Anzacs sacrifice "had been on a stupendous scale - a sacrifice shared by New Zealand."
"The scale of sacrifice and loss was beyond anything imaginable," Mr Abbott said. "From a population of under five million (in Australia), 417,000 enlisted - 61,000 never came home.
"Of Australian men aged 18 to 42, almost one in two served in uniform. Of those who served overseas, almost one in five died on active service."
He told the crowd that while the WWI Anzacs were all gone now they would not be forgotten by the nations they shaped
Mr Key said it was the nations' coming of age.
"As the New Zealanders' vessels met the Australian vessels, the cheering and counter-cheering, the Maori war cries and the answering cooees would have moved a stoic," he said. "Young Australia was welcoming young New Zealand ... in the first meeting of those brothers in arms, soon to be known by a glorious name.
"And the very first part of their legend was written here."
Mr Key said the growing number of people honouring the Anzac legend was testament that their memory would not be forgotten.
"We give thanks to the privileges we enjoy today because of their efforts," he said.
After the service the two Prime Ministers travelled to the new National Anzac Centre which opened it doors for the first time on Thursday.
Mr Abbott said "I wonder at the heroism and I tremble at their suffering," he said.
Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove and Lady Cosgrove met with local dignitaries, parliamentarians, community organisations and local artists at Albany's Vancouver Arts Centre on Friday morning.
The GG was particularly impressed with a life-size sculpture in copper mesh and plate, of an Anzac and his war horse fashioned by local artisan Brad Lucas.
Mr Lucas and Wife Aimee presented the GG with a memento of a copper slouch hat.
Sir Cosgrove also met with young local footballers from the Clontarf academy, of which the Governor General is a patron.
Throughout the weekend buildings in the historic town centre provide the canvas for illuminated stories of the departing Anzacs in a moving, audio-visual installation.
by Owen Davies, Great Southern Weekender
