Organiser Ellen Mackenzie, who is a Fillipino immigrant, said it was only the second time the local Harmony Day event has been held in the immediate centre of town, with roads blocked and a makeshift stage set up in the Grey Street square.

She said Harmony Day is one of the events that helps smooth the transition for New Australians.

"Because human as we are we want to belong. We want to feel at home," she said.

"In a way this is very symbolic that everyone is being accepted and not discriminated against."

There were representatives of Indigenous, Nepalese, Philippines, Indian, Scottish, Americans, Chinese, Dutch and English culture at the event. Ms Mackenzie said the event was getting bigger and bigger every year.

"This is the first time I was given this assignment. I was very passionate because I want to spread the word as wide(as I can)."

Co-organiser Janine Johnson speculated that the increased interest in Harmony day reflects a cultural shift away from all attitudes to racial diversity.

"This is one day of the year when we can demonstrate how well that's going," she said.

"I personally love diversity and inclusion and I live and breathe it - it's not shared by all people, that view, but more and more are embracing it and to me it's one of the most wonderful days of the year."

Harmony Day is otherwise known as the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. March 21 marks the South African Sharpville massacre, in which the white police force opened fire into a massive crowd of non-violent protesters, killing 69.

The 2019 theme was the relatively wordy Mitigating and countering rising nationalist populism and extreme supremacist ideologies.