It was led by returned soldiers ferried down Burelli Street in classic cars, with Australian flags waving through the windows.

They were followed by serving men and women marching to the sounds of drums or bagpipes playing Waltzing Matilda.

Members of RSL sub-branches across the Illawarra joined in, followed by cadets from various arms of the military.

Read more: Anzac heroes honoured at Wollongong dawn services – photos

As each group passed the crowd greeted them with applause and waving flags.

Shaun Gibbons was one of the people in the crowd with his wife Rowena and their two children Harper and Victoria.

Both of Mr Gibbons' parents were in Vietnam; his mother served as a nurse while his father was a photojournalist.

Mr Gibbons said the large crowds were good to see.

This was his family’s first Anzac Day in Wollongong, after moving from Sydney late last year.

He said he was “pleasantly surprised” at the large numbers of people who turned up in the CBD.

“I really thought it would be a handful of people, but this is really impressive,” Mr Gibbons said.

“It's a great thing to see.”

Couple Jack Stubbs and Holly Moynihan – both 21 –  grew up in Wagga where there is an RAAF base.

“It’s important to come down every year,” Mr Stubbs said.

“I don’t think I’ve ever missed one, either up there or down here.”