West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has declined to back changing the date of Australia Day as thousands rallied for action in Perth.

A solid crowd turned out in hot conditions at Forrest Place for the Invasion Day protest, followed by a march to the Supreme Court Gardens.

Bibbulmun woman and event organiser Corina Abraham-Howard said the only way the nation could unite was by acknowledging its history, including the massacres of Aboriginal people and the negative effects of British settlement.

“The only way moving forward together in solidarity is acknowledging the truth,“ Ms Abraham-Howard said.

“And changing to a date that we can all share together with no sorry, no sadness.

“Today is a mourning day. Many of my old people before me stood up and fought for this day not to be celebrated.”

Camera Icon People march in the Perth CBD calling for change to Australia Day. Credit: Caitlyn Rintoul

Ms Abraham-Howard added that May 8 could be a suitable alternative, noting that it needed to be a day without historical baggage.

But speaking at a citizenship ceremony at Wanneroo in Perth’s north, Mr McGowan said he didn’t think the majority of Australians were in favour of change.

“The Commonwealth government has said that it’s not going to happen, so that’s a Commonwealth government decision,” Mr McGowan told reporters.

“Obviously, any conversations around this need to be sensitively handled because some people across the community feel very strongly about the issue.

“I just think the consensus isn’t there yet for this issue.”

Mr McGowan earlier witnessed more than 1000 people make the pledge to become citizens at Australia’s biggest council-led citizenship event.

Later on Sunday, more than 300,000 people are expected to line the foreshore and King’s Park for the City of Perth’s Skyworks event - the nation’s biggest Australia Day fireworks display.

Roving volunteers will encourage attendees to give to the Australian Red Cross bushfire appeal via EFTPOS and cash donations before the fireworks kick off at 8pm.

The event will include the return of the air show, three years after the mid- show death of an experienced pilot and his partner.

Peter Lynch, 52, and his Indonesian partner Endah Cakrawati, 30, were killed when his Grumman G-73 Mallard flying boat broke up on impact in front of horrified families gathered at the Swan River in 2017.

This year’s show will not feature seaplanes flying or landing on the river.