Hundreds of fans have attended a public memorial celebrating the life of cricket legend Andrew Symonds in Townsville.

About 500 people turned out for the event at Riverway Stadium, where cricket great Ian Healy spoke about Symonds' stellar career.

"Andrew was a young teammate with a huge reputation, supremely talented," he said.

Cricket coach Darren Lehmann said Symonds was the best player he ever coached.

"To coach him was just a pleasure," he said.

"He was just a really talented player, he was just a fantastic cricketer.

"We are going to miss him dearly."

Former Australian cricket captain Adam Gilchrist held back tears as he spoke to the media after this morning's private funeral.

"I literally can't believe he is gone, nor could anyone that was at that service today," he said.

"It was full of sadness but such wonderful, beautiful memories of a guy that gave so much of himself to so many people, unconditionally."

Gilchrist said Symonds was an incredible all-rounder and a loyal friend.

"[Former captain] Ricky Pointing says he would pick him in any team, in any format," Gilchrist said.

"The first thing I think of is his commitment to the team, to friendship to mateship, loyal almost to a fault, his mischievous character.

Close friend and former teammate Matthew Mott said he had been dreading this day, but was pleased the funeral was a fitting tribute to his mate who was "like a brother".

"He had so much more to give to a lot of people," he said.

"It's a sad moment but it was a great service and celebrated a life well lived."

A man who loved his family

Mott reflected on the impact Symonds' death had on the two children he left behind, Chloe and Billy, and said the cricket community had wrapped their arms around the family.

"I just kept thinking about how he won't get to see them grow up. He loved them so much and they meant so much to him," Mott said.

Sharing anecdotes of their years playing together, Mott said Symonds always brought joy to the room with his self-deprecating humour.

"He wasn’t a perfect person and he never pretended to be," he said

Symonds' casket arrived at the stadium decorated with flowers, a selection of hats, a cricket bat and a crab pot — in reference to his love of fishing.

His two children and their mother Laura, were joined by guests including cricketing greats Ricky Ponting, Glenn McGrath and Mitchell Johnson.

Friends and family were seen consoling each other as they arrived for the private service, and Billy walked in holding his father's cowboy hat.

Symonds' mother Barbara and daughter Chloe were among those to deliver tributes, while former teammate Jimmy Maher delivered the eulogy.

A tribute video from former cricketer Matthew Hayden was played.

About 250 people attended the private funeral at Townsville's Riverway Stadium, where flags were flown at half-mast.

Symonds was killed when the car he was driving rolled on the rural Harvey Range Road, outside Townsville, almost two weeks ago.

The 46-year-old's passing prompted an outpouring of grief from the international cricketing community, as well as those who knew and loved the man nicknamed "Roy".

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Mayor Jenny Hill said council had worked closely with the family in the lead-up to the memorial to assist in any way they could.

"This is a way we can say thank you and goodbye," Ms Hill said.

"An event like this provides many people closure around Andrew's life and what happened.

"It's an absolute tragedy that it happened, and we've lost a true ambassador for the North and a true larrikin."

Ms Hill said Symonds' contribution to the North Queensland community was immeasurable.

After starting out playing school boys cricket in Charters Towers, 136km south-west of Townsville, Symonds went on to make a name for himself on the international cricket stage as an all-rounder.

After his cricket career ended, he retired to North Queensland where he loved to go fishing.