While drunken hooligans rampaged through the city streets and used Australia Day as an excuse to wreak havoc, at St Mary Star of the Sea College others were proudly granted citizenship of the country they have chosen to call home.
Of the 13,000 people who became citizens at Australia Day ceremonies around the country, 41 attended the Wollongong school.
Donna Antony, 29, originally from the United Arab Emirates, said the day was emotional.
"I felt really happy that I was part of this," Miss Antony said.
"It was a lovely feeling."
The marketing manager decided to make her home in the region after studying business at the University of Wollongong.
"I wanted to take up the opportunity of working in a different country," Miss Antony said.
"I've really taken to it. Growing up in the Middle East, I've been exposed to a lot of cultures but the assimilation level is not as high as it is here. There's far bigger integration in communities here.
"Living in a democracy is so new to me. Voting, having a say in what happens in the city you live in, is so new to me."
Miss Antony celebrated Australia Day with dinner by the beach, followed by watching the fireworks.
She said she had always found Australians to be incredibly welcoming.
Kiwis Nicholas and Kathryn Jones were granted citizenship with their children Stephanie, 17, and Antony, 15.
"We came over in 2002 for my husband to take up a position as a research scientist at the University of Wollongong," Mrs Jones said. "We were living in quite a remote area in New Zealand so the opportunity to come to an urban area had advantages as well.
"There was a difference between countries and a difference between rural and city life.
"We just really love the beaches here.
"New Zealand will always be home for Nicholas and I but I think the kids are becoming Australian.
"They've all made good friends and I think the opportunities are better for them."
The decision to apply for citizenship was based on their desire to become more involved in the community.
"New Zealanders (living in Australia) have a lot of the same rights as Australians but the one thing we don't have is the right to vote and I think that's part of your responsibility of being an active member of the community," Mrs Jones said.
She added Australians had really taken the national day to their heart.
"(In New Zealand) we have Waitangi Day but it wouldn't be celebrated to quite such a degree.
"Australians on the whole are more patriotic than New Zealanders are. I think it's a good thing as long as they focus on everyone belonging."
Aaron Bajen, 26, arrived in Australia from the Philippines in 2003.
"My mother married an Australian so we decided to move out here," Mr Bajen said.
"Australia has better living standards. I love the beach. I think it's a lot more quiet and clean than where I come from and not as violent.
"I wanted to become a citizen because I want to go to university and study business."
Mr Bajen spent Australia Day in traditional Aussie style with a picnic on the beach.
He saw some of the violence that marred Monday's events.
"I did see some but it doesn't bother me, I walk away from it.
"Generally Aussies are very welcoming but you get a small percentage that are racist. I've met some good people here."
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