Fiona Richardson's family had asked mourners to wear purple in her honour and they obliged, packing into Northcote's Regal Ballroom on Thursday wearing coloured ties, blouses, scarves and ribbons.

More than 500 people crammed into the hall for the memorial service honouring Australia's first minister for the prevention of family violence who died last week, aged 50.

Ms Richardson was remembered as a fierce campaigner against family violence with a firm commitment to fighting injustice.

But mourners were told her greatest commitment was to her family – children Catherine and Marcus and husband Stephen Newnham.  

Such was demand for a place at the service that the crowd flowed over into the Uniting Church on High Street where the ceremony was streamed.

Inside the ballroom screens displayed photographs offering a personal glimpse into Ms Richardson's life – cuddles in bed with her children, moments out on the job and sunny family snaps.

Former premier Steve Bracks led the ceremony, describing Ms Richardson as a principled and natural politician. She liked people and they liked her, he said.

Mr Bracks told mourners Ms Richardson's family had also requested the service celebrate her life.

"That is what Fiona would have wanted and I'm not brave enough to cross Fiona," he said.

Brunswick MP Jane Garrett described Ms Richardson as a thoughtful friend, loving mother and a gifted public speaker.

"Fiona's words as a politician stood out for their conviction and their brevity, an unusual trait in our line of work," she said.

Ms Garrett told of how she turned to Ms Richardson for support after being diagnosed with breast cancer last year.

Ms Richardson herself fought breast cancer in 2013.

"She came straight over, hugged me with a force that transmitted strength and love and hope," Ms Garrett  said.

"She knew what to say, when to say it and when to shut the hell up – another unusual attribute in our line of work."

The audience included a long list of Labor figures – Julia Gillard, Bill Shorten, John Brumby and Daniel Andrews among many others.

Mr Bracks said Ms Richardson had played a significant part in the preselections of both Ms Gillard and Mr Shorten.

And it was through the Labor Party she met her husband who was a state secretary.

But the ceremony bridged the political divide with Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy, Nationals Leader Peter Walsh and Greens Leader Greg Barber among MPs from across the political spectrum.

Former Victoria Police chief Ken Lay said he had been warned before speaking at the service that Ms Richardson would have been "embarrassed and dismissive of personal accolades".

But he went on to describe why Ms Richardson was the "favourite minister" of many agencies – how she cared deeply for the wellbeing of staff who worked at the coalface of family violence and conveyed a deep sense of empathy.

Ms Richardson shared her own experience with family violence with Australian Story last year, returning to her birthplace in Tanzania with her brothers Hamish and Alistair and mother Veronica Power who were at the service on Thursday.  

Ms Garrett said the fight against family violence would now take inspiration from Ms Richardson's work.

"We will complete this work in her name and in her honour. And because she simply would not stand for it if we didn't."