The apology came after a group of walkers re-enacted the journey starting in Robe, South Australia, and arriving in Melbourne on Thursday after a 20-day trek.

During the gold rush, Chinese migrants were subject to a tax for entering a port in Victoria. It meant many were forced to make the journey to the goldfields by foot, walking hundreds of kilometres from South Australia.

Mr Andrews described the former policy as a shameful injustice of the past.

He then apologised to the descendents of those migrants, Chinese Victorians and anyone who was hurt by the "terrible policy".

Some of the original migrants died making the overland trek.

"It is never too late to say sorry, particularly if you mean it," he said.

"On behalf of the Victorian government, on behalf of the Victorian Parliament, I express our deepest sorrow and I say to you that we are profoundly sorry."

Mr Andrews issued the apology in the Queen's Hall of State Parliament before hundreds of people, some dabbing away tears.

About 20 people joined this year's expedition from Robe - some of them descendants of migrants who took the original expeditions.

One of the walk's organisers, Ballarat’s Charles Zhang, said the Chinese gold rush migrants had shown great perseverance and determination in making the journey on foot.

Mr Zhang, who lives in Ballarat, said it was important to honour the contribution early Chinese settlers had made to Australia.

Clarinda MP Hong Lim said the apology meant Chinese people in Australia could start to make peace with a racist episode in Victoria's history.

He said the walk marked 160 years since Chinese migrants made the first trek.

Politicians in other countries, including New Zealand, have already apologised for racist policies against Chinese people.

Mr Lim said he had been discussing the form the apology would take with the Premier for about two years.