Australians to-be who have decided to call this land “my land” are uttering the Australian pledge in record numbers as citizenship ceremonies get underway for Australia Day.

A record 16,212 new citizens from 146 different countries have pledged their “loyalty to Australia and its people” on Australia Day in some 365 ceremonies across the country.

However, there were mixed emotions for many, including Wiradjuri woman Yvonne Weldon, who began her welcome to country at a harbourside ceremony in Sydney, noting it was a “sombre” day for first nation’s people, asking attendees to stand for a minute’s silence.

Invasion Day rallies in Sydney and Melbourne drew large crowds to protest at Australia Day being held on January 26 and the the impact of colonisation on Indigenous people.

“What do we want? Land rights. When do we want it? Now,” a 5000-strong crowd yelled as they made their way to Federation Square escorted by dozens of police officers on horses leading the way.

Crowds in excess of 100,000 marched in protest rallies around the country in 2018.

Huge turnout for Invasion day protest in Sydney! #AustraliaDay #changethedate #ChangeTheNation #invasionday2019 pic.twitter.com/IBgUN5PGIm

— Chat (@atatat236) January 26, 2019

“On this day 231 years ago it was the beginning of a devastating change in the lives of the first nations of this land,” Ms Weldon said.

“A change that was the start of traumas never experienced before.”

Amid the mixed emotions, Prime Minister Scott Morrison marked Australia Day at a citizenship ceremony on the shores of Canberra’s Lake Burley Griffin.

Uttering the words to “share”, “respect” and “obey” the nation’s democratic beliefs, rights and liberties, citizenship numbers have not been matched since the first citizenship ceremony 70 years ago in 1949.

Last year there was 12,087 new citizens taking part on Australia Day.

This year the top five countries for new Australian citizens were: India (918 people), UK (517), Philippines (323), China (239), South Korea (176).

At the National Flag Raising Ceremony in Canberra this morning with addresses by @ScottMorrisonMP and the Governor General. View from in front of us, and the media from behind! @ausoftheyear #AusoftheYear #AustraliaDay2019 pic.twitter.com/8rAgPHDM5R

— Dr Skye Kinder (@skyekinder) January 26, 2019

The cohort of new Aussies are likely the last fresh citizens able to wear whatever the like following Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s recent order for new dress standards where board shorts or thongs are not allowed.

“Congratulations and welcome,” he told families, students and academics at the citizenship ceremony.

He also paid tribute to Indigenous Australians and their 60,000 years of culture and history, thanking them for their “wonderful inheritance”.

Bringing his own story of his ancestor’s arrival, he told a seated audience of dozens of soon-to-be citizens his fifth great-grandfather William Roberts arrived in Port Jackson “after a long and treacherous voyage from Portsmouth”.

“It was a new beginning for him, but it would have seemed a particularly grim one at the time. And life was, indeed, about to get much harder for him. Sick, poor, destitute, thrust into an unknown place, and an uncertain future,” he said.

Earlier on Friday, Mr Morrison, who had his face painted in ochre during a traditional Aboriginal smoking ceremony in Canberra, said it was also important to acknowledge the world’s oldest living culture.

“The story of Australia Day is the story of a country that is always trying to do better – that understands its past, it understands its failures and it understands how it has achieved its successes,”

“No country is perfect, we are not, but we have a lot to celebrate.”

It comes after Mr Morrison announced this month that in future councils would be required to conduct citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day as well as on ‘Citizenship Day’ on September 17.

Set to be implemented next year, the revised code will also include a dress code banning overly casual attire.

The government has written to councils to outline its review of the Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code and seek feedback by February 28.

Labor leader Bill Shorten said it’s important to recognise the long history of Indigenous Australians.

“It’s appropriate as we celebrate our national day, to give pause and realise how lucky we are to share this continent who have a continuous connection to country for over 60,000 years,” he told reporters in Melbourne on Saturday afternoon.

-with AAP