Australia's first world champion surfer, Bernard 'Midget' Farrelly, has passed away at the age of 71.

Inducted into the Australia Sports Hall of Fame in 1985, Farrelly was crowned world champion in 1964, winning the very first official championship in Manly.

Described by the Encyclopaedia of Surfing as being "from 1962 to 1970 he was arguably the best competitive surfer in the world," Midget, who stood at just 170cm and 66kg was an integral part of the sport for most of his life.

At the age of just 17, Farrelly became the leader of the Dee Why Surfing Fraternity in 1960 - the club is still active today.