Australia's beloved Gary the Goat dies suddenly

Tributes are pouring in for Australia’s beloved Gary the Goat after he died suddenly of a heart tumour.

The six-year-old goat became an internet sensation, boasting more than 1.7 million followers on Facebook after he was first filmed chowing down on flowers outside a Sydney museum in 2013.

In the early hours of Friday morning, Gary's owner Jimbo Dezarnaulds confirmed the heartbreaking news.

“Unlike my post on April Fool's day in 2016 this news is not a joke,” he wrote.

“Gary died tonight aged six (on Thurs 16th of November at about 10:30pm) from euthanasia - after vets diagnosed a bleed from an acute heart tumour.

"The vets drained it once, but when it came back 24 hrs later we decided that Gary needed to go out peacefully and pain free instead of being conscious while he couldn't breathe.

“We'll all miss you Gary. You gave so much happiness to so many people. Rest In Peace, mate.”

Gary landed Jimbo a $440 fine when he destroyed a bunch of flowers outside Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art in 2013.

He was charged with destroying vegetation without authority.

News of Gary’s run-in with the law went viral after Mr Dezarnaulds posted the incident on Facebook.

So began the legend of Gary the Goat.

Tributes have since poured in from many of Gary’s adoring fans.