The peaceful action against the rally was organised by the Ballarat Community Alliance, an association of progressive community organisations, to 'let the alt-right know there's no place for division and hate in Ballarat'.

Ballarat Regional Trades and Labour Council secretary Brett Edgington said with more than 95 per cent of the city's population now double vaccinated, Ballarat citizens understood the concept of solidarity and keeping each other safe.

"Here in Ballarat, we understand with rights and freedoms comes responsibility and no one has the right to infect other people with COVID, no one has a right to go out in their community and not get tested, not get vaccinated and potentially harm or even kill other people," he said.

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"This is a wonderful way for the Ballarat community, without danger to themselves which they would certainly be in tomorrow, to come out and feel that they've done something to say we really don't want this tomorrow, we don't want these people here, we don't want their message, a message of hate and a message of division, that's being funded by people with ulterior motives, we would prefer they stay away."

Mr Edgington said it was important to include children in the movement to teach them about the rights and responsibilities of the community.

"It's just so important to teach children about our democratic rights, about our freedoms, but also the responsibilities that they have to their communities and to other people, their loved ones, their co-workers, so what a wonderful opportunity," he said.

"This such a juxtaposition of people happy, writing these messages, working together as a community, as opposed to what we're going to see on the streets tomorrow."

Katrina Hill, who was writing her own messages, said vaccinations helped protect people like her 80-year-old mother who is at risk of the virus.

"These far-right people are talking about the loss of freedom but they've actually got it around the other way," she said.

"Freedom comes from getting the vaccine, and if you want to be a part of the community, you have to do what the community does and you have to look after the vulnerable in the community. That's really important for me and that's why I'm here."

The vast majority of the protesters are expected to come from Melbourne and while it is unknown how many will attend, police, council and businesses are preparing for disruptions.

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