A man is detained after refusing to move on during an anti-lockdown protest in Melbourne last weekend
At least 11,000 have already committed to the 'Freedom Day' protest, which is planned for Saturday, September 5th.
This is ahead of Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews' pledge to end Stage Four lockdown on September 13 - but he has repeatedly warned that could be extended at any time.
Rumblings about a planned protest have been circulating for days, with a protest initially planned to go ahead on the day the lockdown was to end.
That date has now been pushed forward to September 5, with a public Facebook page quickly amassing thousands of supporters.
A man is detained after refusing to move on during an anti-lockdown protest in Melbourne last weekend
Angry Victorians identified by social media posts were initially contacted by organisers privately before a public page emerged.
Protesters are expected to include everyone from anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers to ordinary Melburnians who have lost their livelihoods due to the lockdown.
Victoria police has clamped down on public protests with extreme prejudice in the months following the Black Lives Matter protest on June 6.
Back then, police stood back and watched on as thousands of arrogant COVIDiots marched along Melbourne's streets following the death of Black American George Floyd at the knee of police.
A month after it happened, the premier blamed the protest on police.
'We indicated to everybody involved that they should not be protesting, it's not time for a protest, make your point some other way,' Mr Andrews told Triple M radio on July 8.
'I don't think you do your cause any good by going out and protesting.
'But look, police made the call that the notion of trying to arrest 10,000 people was just not something that could be practically done.'
Since then, Victoria Police has embarked on a massive show of force on Melbourne's streets.
'All it will take is for someone to just chuck a rock at a lamp post outside of (parliament). That's what triggered off the Eureka Stockade. It'd be quite symbolic,' one Melburnian said.
Just weeks after Mr Andrews' comments, police marched upon Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance armed with guns, batons and horses in preparation for a planned rally by anti-mask protesters.
The move largely worked, with only a small gathering braving the police juggernaut.
On Friday, Victoria recorded 179 new coronavirus cases - the lowest daily increase since July 13.
The premier has indicated that number would need to reduce even further for Melburnians to be released.
'We have numbers in the low 200s, the trend is good. [But] we have to acknowledge that even at that number, even at half that number, if you opened up, you wouldn't have defeated the second wave — you'd just be beginning the process of a third wave,' he said this week.
Meanwhile, those planning to hit the streets in protest of the lockdown have been thrown into confusion when the planned date suddenly moved forward to September 5 - well within the stage four lockdown period.
'In my opinion the 5th is a dangerous date because if things should go wrong then it will give Andrews all the more powers to hold it against us and continue with stage 4 or even more,' one person commented.
'If you guys keep the date at the 5th of September, whats to stop the police using extreme measures and force to stop people from the suburbs getting into the city,' another wrote.
'I am a mother and have to think about the wellbeing of my family, I definitely wont be attending on the 5th largely due to fears of the police exercising (their) new found powers.'
While it is understood the intent of the protest was to be peaceful, Daily Mail Australia has been told it could end with 'blood on the streets'.
'All it will take is for someone to just chuck a rock at a lamp post outside of (parliament). That's what triggered off the Eureka Stockade. It'd be quite symbolic,' one Melburnian said.
The Eureka Stockade was a rebellion in 1854, instigated by Victorian gold miners, who revolted against the colonial authority of the United Kingdom.
On Friday, protest organisers claimed to have made the decision to go public amid fears the lockdown will continue indefinitely.
Comment: That appears to be the plan of some factions working within governments.
'If you noticed over the last few months, there's been dozens of groups on Facebook addressing the issue of lockdowns in Australia,' they stated.
'It took a bit of time but within 2 days, all of us got in a zoom call meeting, got on the same page with a nationwide date, time + location.
'The Victorian government is expected to continue the lockdown indefinitely, so we will remain subject to change in accordance to their decisions this weekend.'
Victoria Police told Daily Mail Australia it was aware of the planned protest and would be ready.
'We are continuing to make enquiries into the organisers of this event to deter any breaches of the Chief Health Officer's directives,' police stated.
'This would be a completely blatant breach of the Chief Health Officer's directions, putting Victorian lives at risk.'
Police made it clear they would not hesitate to enforce the emergency laws.
'Be assured Victoria Police will be responding and will take appropriate action. Those thinking of attending can expect to see a highly visible police presence in and around the city to ensure the community is complying with Stage 4 Restrictions,' it stated.
'We will have no hesitation in issuing $1,652 fines or making arrests on the day, if necessary. In addition to this, those who are found to be in breach of a self-isolation order can be subject to a fine of $4,957. '
Comment: Australia and New Zealand are fast becoming the dystopian model: