Five people reveal what it was like marching alongside 50,000 at historic Sydney WorldPride Harbour Bridge event

In the early hours of this morning, over 50,000 people made history as they marched across the Harbour Bridge in an epic – and poignant – conclusion to Sydney WorldPride.

Emotions were mixed, attendees tell 9Honey, with Sydney's 78ers being one of the first groups to cross the national monument, quietly holding hands as they walked in "solidarity" against homophobia, which is what spurred Sydney's first Mardi Gras parade in 1978 – it was a protest, not a party.

For other members of the LGBTQIA+ community who marched later, however, the bridge march was a happier occasion, with an air of celebration signifying unity. Here's what attendees had to say about the historic Sydney Harbour Bridge march.

Watch the video above.

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"It was beautiful. An iconic moment on an iconic bridge. Very emotional," Imran Abdullah, 36, tells 9Honey.

"Walking over the bridge after a huge WorldPride was the perfect way to end and incredible two weeks. Seeing so many people walk over the Sydney Harbour Bridge waving their Progress flags was so special," he says.

"It was a great atmosphere!" Jacky Field, 23, tells 9Honey. "Very busy but everyone was respectful of each other's space and [it] was an overall very calm and wholesome vibe. It was uplifting to see so many people together feeling safe in their queerness and marching for Pride."

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"Being at the march was so much more emotional than I expected," Maddison Leach, 26, tells 9Honey.

"Looking out at the crowds of people draped in Pride flags, dressed in all colours of the rainbow really hit home for me and I almost teared up a few times.

"Even though I'm quite openly queer, I've never been to Mardi Gras or attended a pride event like this before and it's so affirming to see just how many people are a part of this incredible community of LGBTQIA+ Aussies."

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"I never really dreamed I'd watch men holding hands with their husbands or women kissing their wives on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and be celebrated for being exactly who they are. Watching history be made today, all I felt was love – and Pride, of course," she says.

"It was joyous and wholesome and meant a lot seeing so many people out on a national monument. Everyone smiling, proud and buzzing," Rhian Mordaunt, 24, tells 9Honey.

"It felt like a march with 50,000 friends," Lachlan Peden, 26, says.