After years of hard-fought advocacy, over 20 failed bills, and an extraordinary, unprecedented national postal survey, same-sex marriage has finally become the law of the land in Australia.

Hundreds of LGBTI advocates and couples who have been waiting years for this moment watched on from the public gallery, sometimes raucously, as the House of Representatives passed a historic vote in favour of change on Thursday evening.

Just four MPs voted against the reform, with so many MPs on the side of the chamber voting in favour that some had to stand. The four MPs who voted against the bill were government MPs Russell Broadbent, Keith Pitt and David Littleproud, and independent Bob Katter.