The Australian genus Sternopriscus SHARP, 1882 (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Hydroporinae) of the subfamily Hydroporinae is revised. All the 14 previously recognised species [S. browni SHARP, 1882, S. clavatus SHARP, 1882, S. hansardi (CLARK, 1862), S. meadfootii (CLARK, 1862), S. marginatus WATTS, 1978, S. minimus LEA, 1898, S. montanus WATTS, 1978, S. multimaculatus (CLARK, 1862), S. mundanus WATTS, 1978, S. signatus SHARP, 1882, S. tarsalis SHARP, 1882, S. tasmanicus SHARP, 1882, S. wattsi PEDERZANI, 2000, S. wehnckei SHARP, 1882] are redescribed and 12 species [S. alligatorensis sp.n., S. alpinus sp.n., S. aquilonaris sp.n., S. balkei sp.n., S. barbarae sp.n., S. goldbergi sp.n., S. mouchampsi sp.n., S. pilbaraensis sp.n., S. storeyi sp.n., S. wallumphilia sp.n., S. weckwerthi sp.n. and S. weiri sp.n.] are described as new. Sternopriscus tarsalis ssp. oscillator SHARP, 1882 is considered to be a synonym of S. tarsalis SHARP, 1882, S. obscurus SHARP, 1882 to be a synonym of S. browni SHARP, 1882, and S. cervus WATTS, 1978 to be a synonym of S. hansardi (CLARK, 1862). A lectotype for S. minimus LEA, 1898 is designated. Monophyly of Sternopriscus is suggested by one apomorphy: Fourth segment of pro- and mesotarsi distinctly visible. The genus is found in all kinds of aquatic habitats and is distributed all over Australia; the southeast, Tasmania and the southwest appear to be centres of speciation. The northern species are mostly rheobiotic, whereas the southern ones occur in all kinds of standing water with some stenotopic peatland species. Important species characters [median lobes, male antennae and colour patterns] are illustrated. A key to all species is provided. The known distribution and ecology of each species is briefly outlined.