Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat who save thousands of Jews from death during World War II, was made an honorary Australian citizen. He is the first person accorded such a recognition.

The event marked the 100 years of the Holocaust hero's birth.

"The lives of those he rescued are Mr Wallenberg's greatest memorial and Australia is honoured to have survivors he rescued living in Australia today," Prime Minister Julia Gillard said in a statement on Monday.

He was deployed to Budapest in July 1944. The city was then occupied by Nazis. Mr Wallenberg helped save thousands of Jews in Hungary by issuing them protective passports in the last months of the Holocaust.

He also bought buildings to accommodate as many Jews possible and gave them extraterritorial status.

One of the beneficiaries is Vera Goodkin and her family. Here is Ms Goodkin's testimony.

Last seen alive on Jan 17, 1945 when Soviet forces booted out the German and Hungarian soldiers who sided with the Nazis, Mr Wallenberg died in prison in Moscow after 2 years, according to official Soviet account.

The official presentation ceremony of Mr Wallenberg's honorary citizenship will be made on May 6 at the Government House in Canberra, hosted by Governor-General Quentin Bryce.

Hungary, Israel, Canada and the U.S. had previously extended honorary citizenship also to the Holocaust hero.