For Anthony and Beatriz Matheson, Australia Day bookends a journey that began with a holiday abroad almost a decade ago. It also marks a new beginning in the life of a young Australian family.
The couple travelled to Australia from their native Brazil eight years ago. Both architects from Rio de Janeiro, they were drawn to Melbourne with its reputation for design and culture. They planned to learn English and to see the country, but soon fell in love with the Australian lifestyle. Within six months they made the decision to migrate.
On Monday the Docklands couple was among 105 people who became Australian citizens at a ceremony led by Lord Mayor Robert Doyle at Melbourne Town Hall. The new Australians received certificates, native plants and hand-held flags as family and friends cheered on.
For the Mathesons, the timing could not be better. Their 18-month-old son, Max, was born in Melbourne and their second son is due next month.
"We feel a mix of honour and relief," Ms Matheson said. "We felt already very Australian for a long time. But we also feel a little relieved now because we know we will be here to raise our family."
Mr Matheson said he was happy to finally call himself an Australian.
"It was a long immigration process and today's the day that we finally accomplished it," he said. "We chose to be here and it's a free country. That's a good feeling."
Almost 16,000 people from 150 countries pledged their loyalty to Australia at 333 ceremonies around the country. They join more than 4 million people who have become Australians since the first citizenship ceremony was held on this day 66 years ago.
Somali-born Khadra Said, 29, also took the citizenship pledge at the Swanston Street ceremony, with her husband, Abdirahman, and children watching on in the crowd. Asked why she became a citizen, Ms Said's answer echoed that of many others in the room. "Because I love Australia."
Banker Joe Lyon, 33, posed for photos with his girlfriend, Sheethal Thomas, after the ceremony. Originally from Lancashire, in the north of England, Mr Lyon said he fell in love with Melbourne during a 2006 around-the-world backpacking trip. An exuberant Mr Lyon watched on as the Australian flag was raised outside the Town Hall.
"This is the pinnacle of a very long visa story," he said. "It's fantastic to be a citizen. It's brilliant."
Despite the persistent rain on Monday, Mr Lyon celebrated his citizenship in the same way most other new Australians did: with a barbecue.
