Australian sign language interpreter overcome with emotion during same-sex marriage result

An Australian sign language interpreter was overcome with emotion as she made her translation of the same-sex marriage result.

The woman was visibly overcome with happiness after Australia voted Yes to same-sex marriage.

The signed English interpreter at the Australian Bureau of Statistics, whose name is unknown, was praised as a "true hero" for her emotional reaction to the news.

She was translating beside David Kalisch, an Australian statistician.

Social media lit up at her reaction, which occurred as Mr Kalisch, revealed the result five minutes into his speech.

Australia voted in favour of legalising same-sex marriage by 61.6 per cent to 38.4 per cent on Wednesday.

The vote had a bigger turnout than the Brexit referendum and US presidential election at 79.5 per cent.

The non-binding postal survey saw 16 million people registered to vote among Australia's population of 24 million.

As the majority voted in favour, the Australian parliament will vote by December on legislation to lift the ban on same-sex marriages.