Mourners turning up to pay their respects to former prime minister Gough Whitlam say they have been turned away from the memorial service at the Sydney Town Hall despite having registered for the event.

Some people had travelled from as far away as Perth, Melbourne and Townsville to attend the state memorial service, which is shaping up as the biggest in living memory.

But some people were close to tears on Wednesday morning when told they would not be admitted to the service, despite having phoned to register for the event.

Penelope Robinson and Omid Namdar had flown from Perth on the red-eye flight on Wednesday morning, only to be told they could not get in despite receiving an email.

"This is so unfair. I got through university because of Gough and I named my third son because of him. Mr Whitlam even signed his birth certificate," Ms Robinson said.

Rodney Ranners came from Seven Hills by train in his wheelchair.

"I came all the way in because my carer received an email, I haven't go the email, I don't have a mobile phone. They won't let me in," he said, close to tears.

Among the early arrivals at the Town Hall this morning (and who will presumably have seats) are Senator Warren Snowden, former Whitlam staffer and ex-governor of Tasmania Richard Butler, former NSW premier Kristina Keneally as well as author and Labor speech writer Bob Ellis and his partner, screenwriter Anne Brookebank.

Ms Keneally emphasised what Mr Whitlam did for women and his transformation of the Labor party, saying she wanted to be here today to pay her respects.

The state service, which is due to start at 11am, will also be streamed live into Cabramatta's Freedom Plaza and Federation Square in Melbourne.

#goughwhitlam service to be streamed live in Freedom Plaza, Cabramatta, from 11am. pic.twitter.com/0ykKhSlatz — FairfieldCityCouncil (@FairfieldCity) November 4, 2014

The Pope has sent a special mention of condolence to the family of Mr Whitlam, Nick Miller reports.

It was read at a memorial mass in Rome to honour the 21st prime minister of Australia and reveals the Pope personally prayed for Mr Whitlam after hearing of his death.

The mass, held on Monday evening at the chapel in Domus Australia in Rome, was celebrated by former Australian archbishop, now the Vatican's financial tsar, Cardinal George Pell.

Cardinal Pell's sermon recognised Mr Whitlam as "one of the great figures in Australian history," one of the attendees at the service told Fairfax Media.

There will be five speakers at today's service with ABC journalist Kerry O'Brien the master of ceremonies.

The speakers will be Mr Whitlam's son, Anthony Whitlam QC, his former speech writer Graham Freudenberg, Cate Blanchett, Noel Pearson and Senator John Faulkner, who continued to visit the former prime minister every week until his death.

Speakers & Musicians at Gough Whitlam’s memorial service (pic via @paulkidd) pic.twitter.com/0Xv13Blnd9 — IPAA Victoria (@IPAAVic) November 4, 2014

Queue for #GoughWhitlam memorial down Druitt St, winds onto Kent. pic.twitter.com/vKULaFCV4i — Chris Vernon (@comradevernon) November 4, 2014

Shrine to #goughwhitlam as crowds begin to gather in the public square at Town Hall pic.twitter.com/WXK13kAhKW — Lisa Visentin (@LisaVisentin) November 4, 2014

A stirring rendition of Nessun Dorma on the Town Hall's great organ has just finished, to applause from the public gallery, Daisy Dumas reports. A version of I Vow to Thee My Country is now filling the hall. 

At the Whitlam memorial with dad and mum, town hall filling up, standing ovations for Keating and Hawke pic.twitter.com/0hH5M1Rdj6 — Steve Whan (@SteveWhan) November 4, 2014

Ron Miles, from Leichhardt, said he had phoned to register to attend the memorial service on the day registration opened, reports Megan Levy.

"The woman I spoke to took my name, and I said 'What happens now?' She said nothing, it was first in, best dressed. That was how she phrased it," he said.

Mr Miles arrived at the town hall about 8am on Wednesday and joined a line of people on George Street, who were told by an official that if they did not have an email they would not be allowed to enter.

"We weren't asked for our email addresses," he said.

"The people around me were just absolutely fuming. I live in Leichhardt, but the person in front of me was from Melbourne, and two other people were from Townsville. It's just so absolutely bloody frustrating.

"There was another couple of people there who I felt really sorry for. They were saying how much Gough meant to them and how this was a travesty for his memory.

Inside the service, Daisy Dumas and Damien Murphy have scanned the room to see who is in attendance and it obviously is a who's who of modern Australian political figures.

Those already inside the service include former governor Dame Marie Bashir and husband Sir Nicholas Shehadie, former NSW premiers Barry Unsworth and Bob Carr, former Victorian premier Steve Bracks, NSW opposition leader John Robertson, former ACTU leader Bill Kelty, and former NSW attorney-general Bob Debus.

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has released a statement addressing why those who registered to attend the service are being turned away.

It admits they have not been able to contact everyone who received an email telling them to attend and that people would be allowed in on a 'first in, best dressed' basis.

A spokesman said that due to "volume of calls received" they had to change the plans and allocate seats.

The statement reads:

"The original email in response to enquiries did say seats would be allocated on a ‘first in best dressed’ basis," the statement reads.

"However due to the volume of calls received and the limited capacity in the Town Hall, this advice was updated.

"The updated advice informed people that they would be advised if they were to be allocated a seat and if they didn’t receive this confirmation then a seat was not available.

"Every attempt has been made to contact the people who received the initial advice to give them the updated advice.

"However it has not been possible to contact everyone who received the initial advice.

"Although it is not possible to accommodate everyone inside the Town Hall, space has been made available outside the venue for people to view the memorial service on a big screen."

But the biggest response so far has been for the arrival of two former Labor prime ministers.

While those watching proceedings outside cheered, those inside the service gave standing ovations as Bob Hawke and wife Blanche d'Alpuget, and Paul Keating and his ex-wife Annita van Iersel, made their way into Sydney Town Hall within minutes of each other.

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd has arrived with his daughter, Jessica, to applause but no standing ovation.

That was still a warmer welcome than John Howard received upon his arrival moments later, with the crowd outside the service booing the second-longest serving PM as he arrived with his wife Janette.

Papua New Guinea's first prime minister, Sir Michael Somare, is also at Sydney's Town Hall.

Mr Whitlam was instrumental in PNG gaining independence.

Julia Gillard has received one of the biggest receptions upon arrival including a standing ovation, cheers, and flowers as she made her way into the service where she was greeted by her former Labor national president and minister Barry Jones.

The reception was not as warm for Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who was jeered as he walked past the crowd outside and who is now having a quiet word with Mr Hawke ahead of the start of the service.

Julia Gillard arrives to rapturous applause from crowd. Tony Abbott follows to a chorus of booing. #GoughWhitlam pic.twitter.com/oydRUCKb8t — Lisa Visentin (@LisaVisentin) November 5, 2014

Whitlam crowd is booing Tony Abbott like a panto villain. — Lucy Carter (@lucethoughts) November 4, 2014

The popularity contest for former living prime ministers, all six are now in attendance, appears to be over and the focus now back on the service which is due to start within minutes.

The Whitlam family have arrived to to dignified applause and the organ fires up.

There is an expectant atmosphere as the gathered 1,900 mourners await the national anthem.

"There was a lot of laughter in the Whitlam years, some tears, too." Graham Freudenberg speaks richly of his friend. #goughmemorial — Daisy Dumas (@daisydumas) November 5, 2014

The choir and orchestra sing and play the final chorus from Bach's St Matthew Passion, Daisy Dumas reports.

Our next speaker - if more proof of Gough Whitlam's far reach was needed - is actress Cate Blanchett, one of the more glamorous guests at today's memorial.

She was three when Whitlam came to power.

Cate Blanchett thanks the Whitlam family for the opportunity to talk. She said on learning of Mr Whitlam's passing she was filled with an "inordinate sadness, a great sorrow".

To huge applause she tells the service she is the "beneficiary of free tertiary education", of "good, free health care" and is the product of an Australia that was encouraged under Mr Whitlam to engage with the globe.

Aunty Millie Ingram is giving the Welcome to Country on behalf of the Gadigal people and also paying her respects to "the great Mr Whitlam", a man who "shone the light that led the way" for Indigenous Australians.

She said the impact the Whitlam government had on Indigenous Australians was "enormous and can never been underestimated".

Mr Whitlam sat down at the Canberra Tent Embassy and learnt first hand what we were fighting for, Aunty Millie told the service.

"The policy of self-determination changed the whole dynamic for us. For the first time we were included in the decision making about our rights and our lives and we were taken seriously."

His former speech writer Graham Freudenberg is recalling his time with his close friend and confidant.

"This is the greatest privilege of my very privileged life and I thank the Whitlam family for it," he said.

"The Whitlam touch is on us all. He touches us in our day to day life, in the way we think about Australia, in the way we see the world.

"He touches, still, the millions who share his vision for a more equal Australia, a more independent, inclusive, generous and tolerant Australia, a nation confident of its future in our region and the world."

Blanchett has channelled another former Australian political giant, Robert Menzies, in closing her address to the Whitlam service.

"I was but three when he passed by, but I shall be grateful until the day I die," she said.

Noel Pearson is now paying tribute to "this old man" Whitlam.

Without Mr Whitlam, Mr Pearson says, there would have been no land rights, and his chances in this nation were the result of the Whitlam government.

"This old man was one of those rare people who never suffered discrimination but understood the importance of protection from its malice."

The Whitlam government is the "textbook case of reform trumping management", he said.

"In less than three years an astonishing reform agenda leapt off the policy platform and into legislation ... the country would change forever," he said.

"The modern cosmopolitan Australia finally emerged like a technicolour butterfly".null

"He believed profoundly in the Australian Labor Party as the mainstay of Australian democracy and Australian equality," Mr Freundberg said.

"Paul Keating is right. There was an Australia before Whitlam and there was a different Australia after Whitlam."

Master of ceremonies Kerry O'Brien has begun proceedings

"A big man, big heart, big vision, big hurdles, big flaws, big outcomes, a big life dedicated to public service," Mr O'Brien said.

"Gough chose this venue, of course he did, the people's hall. But it wasn't his first choice, his first choice was a funeral pyre in the Senate. He wanted to take the upper house with him."nullnull

"The nation was truly changed by him through the arts and by gender," Blanchett said.

Daisy Dumas reports that Blanchett is struggling to deliver her speech as the rapturous applause rings out for her praise of free tertiary education.

Crowd sings along with Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody #goughmemorial pic.twitter.com/sKR3X85Okb — Daisy Dumas (@daisydumas) November 5, 2014

Senator John Faulkner, a good friend who visited Mr Whitlam weekly up until his death, has told the service that he "was a great Australian prime minister, great in every sense of the word."

"In a time when so many are so cynical about politics let us remember that this great Australian chose politics as a cause and a lifelong passion," Mr Faulkner said.

"The policies he advocated and later enacted looked outward to the world and forward to an Australian where all citizens have the opportunity to realise their ambitions and make good on their potential."

Senator Faulkner said Mr Whitlam was not without his flaws and failings. He joked in recounting how when the former prime minister set off a metal detector he would blame it on his aura.

"He was a staunch constitutionalist, a consummate parliamentarian, a great prime minister, he was all these things and he was a Labor man," he said.

"His policies, his programs and his instincts were profoundly Labor. He was a great Labor prime minister and a great Labor leader before it."

Senator Faulkner said Mr Whitlam took great joy in saying that his first cabinet, the he so-called "duumvirate" comprising of just himself and his deputy Lance Barnard, was the "only federal ministry to be comprised entirely of war veterans".

Senator Faulkner has also paid tribute to the partnership he formed with his wife, Margaret.

"Margaret was always by his side but never in his shadow," he said.

Senator John Faulkner's speech to his great friend Gough can be found in full here.

Mr Whitlam's oldest child, Tony Whitlam, QC, a former politician himself who went on to become a judge of the Federal Court of Australia is addressing the service on behalf of the Whitlam family.

"Gough, of course, would have loved to speak today but the rules of the game have disqualified him," Mr Whitlam said. "That is just as well as I am told the Town Hall is booked tomorrow."

Tony Whitlam said while prime minister, and whenever he was in Sydney, his father would always go home to Cabramatta in the city's south-west.

"Even when he had functions to attend all over the metropolis, Gough slept at home at Cabramatta," he said.

"Against that backdrop can you imagine my surprise in the wash up of Gough's death ... [an article supposedly exposing] the myth that he was a western suburbs kid come good?"

"I had never heard such a myth? Had anyone?"

He said his father still attended his office four times a week up until the last few months before he died.

"The grace and serenity to which Gough accepted the decline in his health was quite striking," he said.

Tony Whitlam has thanked Mr Abbott for organising a state service and thanked officials, family, friends and supporters for attending the service.

Antony Whitlam recalls election campaigning with his father, armed with a megaphone down a river in a tinny. #gough pic.twitter.com/6nVw5s1nLn — Lisa Visentin (@LisaVisentin) November 5, 2014

Noel Pearson revelling in his moment, declaiming a tale of discrimination with drama. #goughmemorial — Daisy Dumas (@daisydumas) November 5, 2014

What a marvellous orator Noel Pearson is. — Jacqueline Maley (@JacquelineMaley) November 5, 2014

Noel Pearson is on a roll - wow, even shoe-horning a Life of Brian quote into proceedings #goughmemorial — Daisy Dumas (@daisydumas) November 5, 2014

Tony Whitlam finishes his address saying: "The road ahead may be difficult for all Australians but we need not be divided on partisan lines".

The service concludes with the Sydney Philharmonia Choir and Sydney Symphony Orchestra performing Hubert Parry's Jerusalem by Hubert Parry.

Four RAAF F/A-18 Hornets have also conducted a fly past in "Missing Man" formation.

#goughmemorial pic.twitter.com/JpeByqflgM — Lisa Visentin (@LisaVisentin) November 5, 2014

Lisa Visentin reports that the crowd outside the service erupted into an impromptu chant of "We want Gough" at the conclusion of the memorial.

Good bit of pandemonium as the great and the good file out of the Town Hall. #goughmemorial pic.twitter.com/mK9opo6jmu — Daisy Dumas (@daisydumas) November 5, 2014

As well as the large crowds in and around Sydney's Town Hall, a group of supporters gathered at Cabaramatta in Mr Whitlam's old electorate of Werriaw, in the city's south-west, to watch a broadcast of the memorial service.

Cabramatta locals watch #Gough #WhitlamMemorial on big screen @SBSNews pic.twitter.com/zrub71ToMs — Kathy Novak (@Kathy_Novak) November 5, 2014

That concludes Fairfax Media's live coverage of the state memorial for Australia's 21st prime minister Edward Gough Whitlam.

Maintain your rage and enthusiasm.

Here is Cate Blanchett's rousing tribute to Gough Whitlam in full.

In a well-received tribute that drew in passing on Monty Python's Life of Brian, Mr Pearson said the Whitlam government was "the textbook case of reform trumping management".

"In less than three years an astonishing reform agenda leaps off the policy platform and into legislation," he said of Mr Whitlam's reign from 1972 to 1975.

"The country would change forever. The cosmopolitan Australia finally emerged like a technicolour butterfly from its long dormant chrysalis."

Mr Pearson said there was no need to lament Mr Whitlam's short tenure as prime minister.

"Was any more time needed?"

He praised Mr Whitlam's foresight and moral vision for universal opportunity.

"Only those born bereft truly know the power of opportunity," Mr Pearson said.

"We salute this old man for his great love and dedication to his country and to the Australian people.

"When he breathed he truly was Australia's greatest white elder and friend without peer to the original Australians."null