AAP
The national Australia Day citizenship and flag-raising ceremony has kicked off in Canberra with a parade of the Federation Guard and the playing of the national anthem.
Marking the start of the event at 9am (AEDT) on Saturday, National Australia Day Council chair Adam Gilchrist told the crowd gathered on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin that Australia Day recognised the nation's diverse cultural history.
He said that new citizens would further enrich the country and enjoy the opportunities that Australia provided.
"There's not doubt we are richer, we are stronger and a more egalitarian country because they and may others choose to come here," Mr Gilchrist said.
The ceremony was attended by Australian of the Year Ita Buttrose, Young Australian of the Year Akram Azimi, Senior Australian of the Year Professor Ian Maddocks and Australia's 2013 Local Hero Indigenous leader Shane Phillips
Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Governor-General Quentin Bryce looked on as the Australian flags were raised and a group of Hawk 127 aircraft flew overhead.
A 21-gun salute resounded over the capital.
Almost 100 people from 22 countries were taking part in the citizenship pledge in Canberra.
They included British actor Miriam Margolyes, who played Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter movies.
Ms Margolyes first came to Australia in the 1980s and lives in the Southern Highlands in NSW.
Some 17,000 people from 147 countries will be taking the pledge across the nation on Saturday.
Mr Gilchrist said he enjoyed watching citizenship ceremonies.
"I love the emotion of the moment, the audible support of friends and family and the joy afterwards," he said.
He said the most common word used by new Australians was "opportunity".
"The opportunity that our nation provides," he said.
"This will be, for all of you, a day to remember."
The former test cricketer jokingly reminded the soon-to-be new citizens about the Australian love of sport.
"As fully fledged Australians, now you will know what cricket and tennis teams to support," Mr Gilchrist said.
Ms Gillard, who was born in the UK, said she was a proud member of the four million people who had taken the citizenship pledge since 1949.
"As migrants - all four million of us - we did not just adopt a new country," she said.
"We helped transform it and enrich it and together, as new Australians and old, we made this experiment work."
Ms Gillard said Australia exhibited "muscular multiculturalism".
"Our nation is not just a patchwork of identities and backgrounds, ours is a land where flag and oath, mateship and fairness, work and opportunity are open to all and embraced by all," she said.
"In this way, our multiculturalism is revealed not as an ornament but as an organising principle."
Ms Gillard said Australia's best days lie ahead.
"This is your new country and you'll never want for another," she said.
Ms Margolyes, who received her citizenship certificate from Ms Gillard, joked about why it took her about 20 years to decide to become a permanent resident and 30 years to take up citizenship.
"Well, you have to be sure don't you," she said to a loud cheer from the crowd.
"Now I am!"
The actor said she had been drawn to Australia by her Australian female partner, whom she has been with since 1968.
Ms Margolyes said she planned to celebrate her citizenship and Australia Day by eating.
"I'm just very happy to be here and I will be with friends and the rest of my life will be joyous," she said.
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