Sydney Organiser Ken Canning from Fighting In Resistance Equally said he hoped the Invasion Day rally would draw attention to indigenous deaths in custody and was grateful for the support of non-Aboriginal Australians.
"The idea here is to engage the general public because our political spectrum around the country, except for maybe the Greens party ... ignore the calls of Aboriginal people," he told AAP ahead of the march.
Thousands are expected at "Invasion Day" marches around the country, buoyed by Thursday's comments from Australian of the Year nominee Johnathan Thurston that the date will inevitable change one day.
More than 5000 are expected at a rally outside the Victorian Parliament and similar numbers will walk in Sydney, starting from The Block in Redfern.
Protests have already begun with a Melbourne statue of Captain Cook daubed in pink paint and the words "No Pride" on Thursday.
An Institute of Public Affairs poll released this week suggests most Australians agree with him, with 70 per cent of 1000 respondents saying the public holiday should remain on January 26, while 11 per cent disagree.
And not all Aboriginals are boycotting celebrations with indigenous performers including the Koomurri Aboriginal Dancers and the KARI Singers opening Friday's festivities in Sydney which is expecting a crowd of around half a million into the city.
Earlier, Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove urged Australians to embrace Australia Day to celebrate the rich history and culture of indigenous people and the contributions of migrants.
Police keep eye on the crowd for the Australia Day parade down Swanston Street in Melbourne, Friday, January 26, 2018 Source: AAP
As disagreement intensifies over shifting the national day from the January 26 anniversary of the First Fleet's arrival in 1788 and division widens amid growing "Invasion Day" rallies, Sir Peter reminded Australians to celebrate their diversity on Friday.
"From the rich culture and history of our first Australians, to the many generations who've come here to make Australia home, to those people proudly taking the citizenship pledge and becoming our newest Australians today, our nation is stronger because of our diversity and the way we live and work harmoniously together," he says in his Australia Day address.
Meanwhile in Hobart, hundreds of people have rallied on the lawns of parliament house.
Banners reading "Survival Day" were carried by protesters, who weaved through the city's streets on Friday morning.
"It's not just Aboriginal people but our non-indigenous friends who know the difference between right and wrong," Aboriginal activist Nala Mansell told the crowd.
- With AAP
