Surf icon Bernard ‘Midget’ Farrelly immortalised on Black Rock
A new outdoor sculpture has been finished in Palm Beach. Under the talented hands of Cromer stonemason Newton Bishop, the figure of surfing legend Bernard ‘Midget’ Farrelly, dubbed the ‘Godfather’ of Australian surfing, has been immortalised in a rock carving.
Following public consultation, the Northern Beaches Council endorsed the Midget Farrelly Recognition Committee’s proposal to install a public artwork on Black Rock, located on Ocean Road.
As Newton designed the piece, the sculptor was inspired by the humble personality of ‘Midget’. “There’s a
pretty prominent, famous photo of him with his arms up in the competition in 1964. They also said he was the sort of person who didn’t want to be too much in the limelight, so the rock was a subtle idea and was decided on,” Newton says.
Midget lived in Palm Beach for 54 years. He became the first Australian to win a major international surfing title at the unofficial 1962 Makaha International Surfing Championship. Two years later, he won the inaugural World Surfing Championship at Manly Beach.
Bernard ‘Midget’ Farrelly at the World Championship in 1964 at Manly Beach. Credit: Surfing Walk of Fame
In 1985, he was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, recognising his contribution to surfing. Midget gave back to the local community through the Palm Beach and Whale Beach Surf Lifesaving Clubs, where he was a member and mentor for over 20 years. He passed away in 2016 at age 71 following a battle with cancer.
Newton’s work may be familiar. The artist has also created stone sculptures on the Narrabeen playgrounds at
Berry Reserve and Bilarong Reserve Playground, among other projects.
He says that public art is important, not only to recognise people, but to enhance public spaces and bring the
community together.
“I love public art because it beautifies the space and makes the place more interesting,” Newton says.
“If you have tourists coming through Palm Beach or tourists coming to Sydney, you could have public art all over the coastlines and create a bit of a tourist trail.”
The sculptor says his carving of ‘Midget’ was one of his favourites. “This one was one of the most rewarding and
the most prominent I’ve had in years, I really enjoyed doing it. And I’m really satisfied, I love it.”
