The 34-year-old Sharpe received the John Eales Medal, the Wallabies Players' Player award, on Thursday evening.
He is only the second person to win the medal twice behind openside flanker George Smith, the man he recently surpassed to become Australia's most capped forward.
"It was very hard to lose the three previous captains in one hit," Sharpe said, referring to injuries that sidelined James Horwill, David Pocock and Will Genia this season.
"I've just enjoyed it for what it is."
Sharpe, who also won the medal in 2007, polled 259 votes from his peers over the course of the Wallabies' last 19 Test matches stretching back to the 2011 World Cup, 24 ahead of nearest rival Pocock.
He added to ABC radio that being presented with the medal by Eales was the ultimate honour.
"He's a guy that I cut my teeth under when I first started playing, so it's tremendous to get it from him in my final year," he said of the former Australian captain.
Meanwhile, Springbok wing Bryan Habana was named South African Rugby Player of the Year at a ceremony here on Thursday as he became only the second star ever to win the award more than twice.
Springbok wing Bryan Habana, pictured in September 2012, was named South African Rugby Player of the Year at a ceremony here on Thursday as he became only the second star ever to win the award more than twice.
The 29-year-old, hampered by an injured knee, limped onto the stage with the help of crutches to accept the award for the third time after having also been voted number one by the rugby media in 2005 and 2007.
His striking form helped his team, the Cape Town-based Western Province, win the Currie Cup last Saturday, while his seven tries for the national side in 2012 bring his national record tally to 47.
Habana's hat-trick against Australia in Pretoria in September brought the home team a 31-8 victory in the Rugby Championship.
He also was recognised for Try of the Year after bursting past the All Blacks defence to score in Dunedin, also in September.
"It's a very humbling experience," he said, accepting the award after doubt had previously been cast on his performances.
"I never really doubted myself but when these questions come about you just have to work harder," he added.
"Hopefully I'll leave the jersey in a better place than I received it."
Habana's three Player of the Year awards are second only to former Springbok fly-half Naas Botha. Now a television analyst with the Johannesburg-based SuperSport channel, Botha won the award four times.