Athletics great Sally Pearson and surfing legend Mick Fanning lead the latest inductees into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, which features the nation's biggest sporting names and champions.
The former Olympic hurdling champion and three-time surfing world champion were among six athletes to become members.
The group will be formally honoured at a gala dinner next month. Four athletes - Pearson, Fanning, former Kookaburras captain Mark Knowles and lawn bowls great Karen Murphy - were at Thursday's announcement in Melbourne.
Dual sport Paralympics champion Liesl Tesch and motorsport legend Mark Skaife were unable to attend, but joined an exclusive club boasting legendary sportspeople such as Sir Donald Bradman, Dawn Fraser, Cathy Freeman and Shane Gould.
Millionaire sporting philanthropist Gerry Ryan and basketball administrator, the late Betty Watson, were also inducted as general members.
The first Australian to be named World Athlete of the Year, and already twice a winner of the Hall of Fame's annual "The Don" Award, Pearson said it was "surreal" to be acknowledged.
The hurdler won Olympic gold in 2012 in London and silver at the Beijing Games in 2008, plus two world titles.
"Having this honour bestowed on me is something really special and something that I'm really proud about," the 38-year-old said.
"Athletics has been so dominant over the decades, with our golden years in the 60s with our amazing female sprinters up until now, and it's amazing to know that your idols are there and now you're standing next to them."
Fanning won his world titles between 2007 and 2013 before retiring in 2018, with a condition of the Hall of Fame that athletes are four years out of their sport.
"It's a huge honour - we have so many incredible athletes in Australia and to be recognised is huge," the 43-year-old said.
No Australian male surfer has managed to become world champion since Fanning, but he hoped Olympians Ethan Ewing and Jack Robinson could break the 11-year drought.
"We definitely have the talent and ability but things haven't gone our way," he told AAP.
"It's really tough to win but I think Australian surfing is back on the rise."
A four-time Olympian, Knowles who was part of the men's hockey team that clinched elusive gold in 2004, while he also won two bronze medals.
A former Kookaburras captain, he was named world player of the year in 2014.
"When I got the call about the award, you think to yourself, as a young country kid how do you get to this point," the Rockhampton product said.
"This gave me a chance to reflect on my journey."
Murphy is considered a lawn bowls trailblazer, winning Commonwealth Games gold among a haul of four medals, as well as four world titles.
She was given the news of her honour the same day she lost her mother to brain cancer.
"I just burst into tears ... I'm extremely honoured to be joining such a wonderful list of athletes and this award is one I share with the whole bowls community," Murphy said.
