The NSW Open Championships date back to 1888 and are the oldest athletics championship event in Australia.

Women’s state championshis were first held in 1926, and then regularly from 1932 under the auspices of the NSW Women’s Athletics Association.

The Little Athletics NSW State Championships, for athletes in the U9 to U12s age groups, are held concurrently with the meet.

The meet has been conducted at Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre since 1995. Prior to that it was held at ES Mark Field from the 1980s, with Hensley Athletics Field playing host during the 1970s.

The meet is conducted by Athletics NSW.