The concept of a Western Australian Hall of Champions was first proposed by the Sportwriters Association of WA in 1983. Following initial groundwork, the Western Australian Government, through the Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS), progressed the concept into a formal recognition program celebrating the state’s greatest sporting achievements.

The Hall of Champions was officially inaugurated on 19 August 1985 by the then Minister for Sport and Recreation, the Hon. Keith Wilson, with the Foundation Members inducted on that date.

With the opening of HBF Stadium (formerly Challenge Stadium) in 1987, the Hall of Champions became a physical and publicly accessible tribute. A gallery of large framed action photographs, accompanied by commemorative plaques, was displayed along the stadium’s central walkway – creating a highly visible celebration of Western Australia’s sporting excellence.

Following the transition of the venue to the Perth High Performance Centre, this permanent display is no longer in place. SportWest is now working to identify a new, contemporary home for the Hall of Champions that ensures the stories and achievements of Western Australia’s greatest athletes remain visible, accessible, and celebrated into the future.

In 2001, a Memorandum of Understanding between WAIS and Curtin University of Technology saw responsibility transition to the University, ensuring the ongoing preservation and presentation of the Hall. WAIS resumed full stewardship of the Hall in 2010, continuing its role in recognising and honouring elite sporting achievement.

In 2025, stewardship of the Western Australian Hall of Champions transitioned to SportWest, the peak body for sport in Western Australia. This transition represents a natural evolution – positioning the Hall within the broader sport system and reinforcing its role not only as a recognition platform, but as a cornerstone of the state’s sporting identity, history and culture.