Mr Smith received the honour on Friday, in the midst of the signature Merewether event he helped establish, at Surf House. 

The 64-year-old received the commendation, the city’s highest formal honour, from lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes. 

Cr Nelmes said his four decades of service included saving countless lives in his 40 years watching over the waves, both on and off duty. 

"It's my great honour to thank Warren for more than 40 years of service to our great city," she said.

"His heroics didn’t stop at the end of his work day either - Warren's family recall him plunging into the diving pool at Lambton Pool more than 25 years ago to save two struggling swimmers when he was off duty."

Mr Smith began his career as a lifeguard on Newcastle beach in 1974, eventually working full-time at Nobbys from 1975 to 2014. 

He was at work the day the Sygna landed, and braved huge seas to help rescue the Pasha Bulker’s crew in 2007. 

Cr Nelmes said his 33 years behind the scenes of Surfest, and his role ending culture wars between “clubbies” and surfers, were also recognised in the award. 

"Warren co-founded Surfest with Nat Jefferey and the late Robbie Wood, with help from council aldermen and Warren's dad, Kevin, in 1985, and he's still coordinating it today, which is an incredible effort by an indefatigable man," she said. 

"He has helped grow the event into Australia’s largest surfing festival, and I'm proud to say that Newcastle City Council has been with him every step of the way as a major supporter.

"And over the decades he has also been a tireless advocate for all things Newcastle, spruiking the city to out-of-towners invariably directed his way after making inquiries.

Freedom or Freeman of the City is an honour bestowed by a council or municipality upon a valued member of the public, or upon a visiting dignitary.

It has been given to Joy Cummings, John and Margaret McNaughton, Charlie Jones and Frank Purdue and harks back to the medieval practice of giving respected citizens their freedom from servitude.

It is linked to freedom of the city, an honour for military units that have earned the city’s trust. That honour was given to the HMAS Newcastle on Anzac Day last year.