It will be the third consecutive Games that Moneghetti has held the roles following Delhi in 2010 and Glasgow in 2014.

The 53-year-old becomes just the second person to lead a team three times, joining Commonwealth Games doyen, the late Arthur Tunstall.

He was Chef de Mission at four Games, including three consecutive editions at Edinburgh 1986, Auckland 1990 and Victoria 1994, where Moneghetti won the marathon. 

Moneghetti has a long association with the Commonwealth Games that began in 1986 when, as a 23-year-old, he was selected in his first Australian team for Edinburgh.

He won a bronze medal in the marathon in the Scottish capital and a silver at Auckland four years later before finally reaching the top of the podium in Canada in 1994.

Moneghetti's fourth and last appearance as an athlete at the Commonwealth Games was in Kuala Lumpur in 1998 when he won a bronze medal in the 10,000 metres. 

The Australian Commonwealth Games Association (ACGA) is planning to send its largest ever team at Gold Coast 2018. 

They hope to be represented by 450 athletes, surpassing the 425 who competed at Melbourne in 2006 and the 409 at Glasgow 2014. 

“Steve Moneghetti has done a brilliant job in galvanising the Australian team at the past two Commonwealth Games,” ACGA chief executive Craig Phillips said. 

“He is respected by all the athletes who know that he understands what they need and how they feel when they enter the Games Village as part of the Australian Commonwealth Games team.

“And as part of that, Steve will play a key role in ensuring the needs of the Australian athletes are met.

"He will lead our planning visits with the Gold Coast 2018 organisers which continue with our first full site visit next month.”