John Warcup Cornforth, the only Australian to win the Nobel Prize for chemistry, has died aged 95.

Professor Cornforth won the 1975 Nobel Prize for work on enzyme-catalyzed reactions.

He was born in Sydney on September 7, 1917, and despite going completely deaf by the age of 20, rose to the top of his profession.

Professor Cornforth spoke out against secrecy in scientific research on the ABC's Science Show in 1992.

"Where I do think we are falling down is in the published information side," he said.

"If we had any sense we should be making a concerted effort to try to make all original scientific information instantly available."

He spent his childhood in both Sydney and Armidale, NSW, and he was only ten years old when he experienced the first signs of deafness.

The professor entered Sydney University at the age of 16, where he began laboratory work in organic chemistry.

He was the recipient of numerous scholarships, medals and awards, including the 1851 Exhibition scholarship, which he shared with wife-to-be, Rita Harradence.

Professor Cornforth is survived by his three children.