The Australian version of Total Request Live started out in early April as a weekend show produced on a large cruising vessel known as The Pontoon, dubbed the "MTV Cruiser" which floated around Sydney Harbour containing the audience, performing bands and VJs. Australian band Killing Heidi were the first to perform on the show. After the summer months TRL Australia was broadcast from various venues around Sydney before moving into a studio with a live audience. The show is now live on Tuesday to Thursday and then TRL Weekend on Friday, each day from 5pm to 6pm EST. The show was originally hosted by Kyle Sandilands, Maz Compton and Jason Dundas and similcast on 2Day FM. Kyle withdrew from hosting duties during 2005, leaving the hosting of TRL Australia to Maz Compton, Lyndsey Rodrigues, Nathan Sapsford and Jason Robert Dundas.
The show was largely Directed by Craig Tinetti. Craig had previously worked with high-profile acts including Prince, The Corrs, Jamiroquai, UB40, Fatboy Slim and The Who.
Production of TRL Australia ceased during 2006 without any announcement. Other locally-produced shows such as Full Tank and The Lair replaced TRL.