Several thousand people attended Tuesday's rally, eclipsing last year's event, organisers say, despite coronavirus social distancing measures and the cancellation of a usual march through the city.

"It's unbelievably fantastic to see a crowd like this," Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre chief executive Heather Sculthorpe said.

"We started with a handful of people in Launceston and within a decade this is what we've come to.

"It's so emotional to see how people are prepared to turn out ... to give up their day and put their bodies forward to say 'we're with you and we know you can win this one'."

Former Greens leader and environmentalist Bob Brown, plus state Greens and Labor opposition leaders, were among speakers calling for Australia Day to be shifted from January 26.

"We are on the move to undo some of the injustice. Not just to change the date but to empower Tasmanian Aboriginal people," Dr Brown said.

Nala Mansell, TAC campaign coordinator, said she had never seen so many non-Aboriginal people come out in Hobart in support of changing the date.

"We thank you," she told the crowd.

Australian Associated Press