The service of Australians who fought in the Pacific in World War II is being remembered, 77 years after the end of the conflict with Japan.
The commemoration of Victory in the Pacific Day was held at Sydney's Martin Place Cenotaph on Monday, on the anniversary of the day Japanese Emperor Hirohito announced his country would accept the Allies' ultimatum to surrender unconditionally.
For Australians, it meant the end of WWII, which saw nearly one million diggers serve during nearly six years of conflict.
The day in 1945 prompted spontaneous public celebrations around the country, three months after the Allies triumphed in Europe.
Some 30,000 Australian soldiers were taken prisoner, and 39,000 died on the battlefield.
This included 17,000 who fought the Japanese in places such as Malaya, the Netherlands East Indies - now known as Indonesia - and Borneo.
Many more Australians also became prisoners of war when Singapore fell to the Japanese in February 1942.
Japan surrendered to Allied forces on August 15, 1945, nine days after the US bomber Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima, killing 140,000 people.
Veterans' Affairs Minister Matt Keogh said it was important to pause to remember the thousands of Australians who lost their lives fighting Japan.
"We remember our valiant efforts on the Australian home front, in Malaya, Singapore, Papua and New Guinea, Borneo and elsewhere in the southwest Pacific across those three years of war," he said in a statement.
"The threat of invasion seemed very real, it was a time when Australians worked hard and pulled together to defend our country.
"On this day, I encourage all Australians to remember the courage and sacrifice of those who served during the Second World War."
RSL NSW President Ray James said the day was a reminder of how close Australia came to being invaded.
"But for the service and sacrifice of the men and women who served in our armed forces, and those of the Allied Forces, the Australian people would not have been protected from the battles of WW II reaching our shores," Mr James told AAP in a statement.
Monday's event included the laying of wreaths at the Cenotaph by delegates from NSW RSL, Legacy, the War Widows Association as well as Japan's Consulate.
Australian WWII veterans Aubrey Knowles, Dennis Davis, Don Kennedy, and Ken Frank were also in attendance.
Fewer than 3000 Australians who served during WWII are believed to still be alive.
