A memorial to honour the first anniversary of the Westfield Bondi Junction stabbing attack has been unveiled.
In less than three minutes on April 13 last year, a knife-wielding Joel Cauchi made his way through the shopping centre stabbing 16 people at random.
Six people were killed; Yixuan Cheng, Faraz Tahir, Jade Young, Pikria Darchia, Dawn Singleton and Ashlee Good.
Mr Cauchi also died after he was shot by NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott, who responded to the emergency call.
Senior leaders from government, police, and families of the victims gathered at Oxford Street Mall on Sunday morning to offer floral tributes and pay their respects.
Among them were the state premier Chris Minns, Inspector Scott and the brothers of Mr Tahir, the 30-year-old security guard who was killed on his first day shift at the centre.
Two black cubes, wrapped in images and text depict the incident and its impact on the local community.
A second area within the shopping centre has also been set up for floral tributes and messages.
Two brothers of Mr Tahir attended the commemoration wearing his work name tags on their blazers.
"He was a hero. He tried to save the humanity, so we want to keep his name alive, so we kept his name on our hearts," one of the brothers, Musafar Tahir, said.
Musafar left a heartfelt message attached to a bouquet of flowers for his brother and the other victims.
"Rest in peace our innocent souls. You will remain in our prayers always and Faraz your loss is the biggest loss of our lives," the note said.
"You are alive in our heart and we will always remember life, and you are our hero as you tried your best to save the humanity."
The family announced on Saturday they were launching a blood drive in memory of the security guard's "heroism", encouraging people to donate under his name.
Pikria Darchia's son George described his mother as an artist who "loved this place" and had encouraged her sons to relocate to Australia from Georgia to join her.
"But we refused and now we regret that we didn't come with her," he said.
He added that despite how "tough" today was for his family, it was important to be there for his mother and the other victims, saying the support they had received from the community had given them strength.
"Today we have to remember all the victims and we have to remember this day to make sure this kind of thing doesn't happen any more," he said.
"We have to change some things so it never happens again."
He commended Inspector Scott's brave actions on that day which saved lives.
"She stopped the terrible thing that was going on. She saved many, many lives and we have to be grateful to this woman."
'Dark' day for Sydneysiders
Earlier Mr Minns described today as a "dark" and "disturbing" day for many Sydneysiders.
He told ABC News Breakfast he remembered his shock when he was told of the attack, and now when he thinks about it he laments the loss of lives of people "who were full of hope".
"Full of, I think, optimism about the future. They had their lives in front of them,"
Mr Minns said.
"And it's harrowing to think about what they would have achieved over the last 12 months, or what they'd achieve for the rest of their lives."
Mr Minns praised the resilience of the "amazing" local community and confirmed a permanent memorial would be set up, but that it would take time.
"We need to do that with the families. We want to make sure that it's appropriate, that it's a place for them to come for quiet reflection, and that it doesn't add to the pain that they're feeling," he said.
In remembering the victims, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said their deaths were a result of "one of the most horrific events in Australian history".
"Our hearts are with their families who continue to endure unimaginable grief and do their best to carry on," Commissioner Webb said in a statement.
She also paid tribute to the first responders, calling them "heroes" for helping to save lives during the "senseless tragedy".
"The memory and the trauma of this day will never be forgotten."
In an emotional message on Saturday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged the pain and suffering of the families who lost loved ones.
"This should not be an anniversary. They should still be here – with their families, their friends and in their communities, with all their hopes and dreams and joys that are the very essence of life," he said in a statement.
"The memories of those who didn’t come home one year ago live on in the love they created, and in the hearts that they touched.
"Remember them today and every single day."
Elliott Rusanow, CEO of Scentre Group which operates Westfield centres across the country, said it was a day of "immense grief" for the families.
“It is impossible to fathom their loss," he said before thanking the community's ongoing support to "our team and business partners".
Support services will be available for the community today and Monday.
An inquest into the deaths will examine a number of elements, including how the events unfolded and potential failings in the mental health system in the lead up to the attack.
It's scheduled for Monday, April 28 to Friday, May 30, and will be conducted by NSW State Coroner, Magistrate Teresa O’Sullivan.
