The Sydney International Piano Competition of Australia is internationally recognized now as one of the world's great Piano Competitions.

In 1975, Claire Dan began planning for the first Competition, which was to be held in August 1977. The Competition comprised five Stages. Chamber Music and vocal accompaniment were part of Stage IV and involved the Sydney String Quartet playing Piano Quintets with the semi-finalists. Leading singers from Sydney and interstate were involved with the semi-finalists in the vocal accompaniment section. The Australian Chamber Orchestra accompanied the Mozart concertos and due to the non-availability of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the then Premier of South Australia provided the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra for the 19th and 20th Century concertos. ABC FM STEREO and 2MBS-FM broadcast some parts of the Competition.

Prize-money in 1977 totalled approximately AUD$25,000 and there was a short tour for the 1st Prize-Winner, Irina Plotnikova, after the Competition.

Subsequent Competitions were held in 1981, 1985, 1988 (to coincide with the Australian Bicentennial celebrations), 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012.

The 2012 Competition ran from 4 July- 21 July, and was broadcast and streamed live by ABC Classic FM in its entirety.