He was the winner of the 1976 Australian of the Year award.
He was commemorated by being featured on the front of the Australian 50 cent coin.
He was knighted by being made a Knight Bachelor in the 1969 New Year's honors for distinguished services to medicine.
He acquired his nickname "Weary" when he was at Ormond College through his being called this after Dunlop tires, with it being a play on them as well as his surname.
He was awarded a medal in the Companion of the Order of Australia in the 1987 Queen's Birthday honors for service to Australian prisoners of war.