Noel Tovey thought he would die in jail after being convicted of homosexual activity.
Instead, the 84-year-old was in the Victorian parliament on Tuesday to witness a formal apology from the state to men convicted of having gay sex.
"This is a really momentous day for me because I never thought I would live to see this day in Australia," Mr Tovey told reporters on Tuesday.
"I think it's also a very good day for every gay man, because finally the government of Victoria is seeing us as real human beings."
Premier Daniel Andrews apologised for what the state did with the laws it passed.
"I can't possibly explain why we made these laws and clung to them and fought for them," Mr Andrews told parliament.
Homosexuality was decriminalised in Victoria in 1981 but before that men could be charged with homosexual acts, as well as the "thought crime" of loitering with homosexual intent.
"For decades, we were obsessed with the private mysteries of men," Mr Andrews said.
"And so we jailed them, we harmed them, and in turn they harmed themselves."
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said gay men were physically tortured because of the laws that criminalised homosexuality.
"We stand here to acknowledge a chapter of our state's history that has been shameful, sad and most distressing for many Victorians, their families, their friends," Mr Guy said.
Six men have successfully applied to have their criminal records expunged, with many others going through the process, after laws were changed in 2014.
