From 1951 to 1983, it was called the ABC Sportsman of the Year Award.
[1] The award was originally voted for by Australian Broadcasting Corporation sports supervisors and the sports editors of major Australian newspapers.
After 1983, members of the Australian Sportswriters' Association also voted.
[3] Swimmer Dawn Fraser was voted as the best Australian sportsman of the 25 years in 1975 as part of the award silver jubilee celebrations.
[4] After 1994, the new award removed the ABC from its title.