"Anzac" was laid down at Williamstown, Victoria on 5 November 1993. The ship was assembled from six hull modules and six superstructure modules, but unlike later ships in the class, which had modules fabricated at three sites, "Anzac" was built entirely at Williamstown. The frigate was launched on 16 September 1994 by Army nurse Vivian Statham. "Anzac" was commissioned into the RAN at Station Pier in Melbourne on 18 May 1996. The ship's name is in recognition of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZACs) and their service during World War I.