Former premier of NSW Neville Wran has died after a long battle with dementia.

FORMER long-serving NSW premier Neville Wran will have a state funeral.

Mr Wran, one of the giants of NSW politics, died yesterday after a long battle with dementia. He was 87.

NSW Premier Mike Baird says the Wran family has accepted the offer of a state funeral and the date will be confirmed in coming days.

“Following my discussion with Jill Wran last night, the family has accepted a state funeral,” Mr Baird told reporters in Sydney on Monday.

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“It is an entirely fitting tribute to a man who has left his mark on this state.” Mr Baird paid tribute to the former Labor premier who led the state between 1976 and 1986.

“He was pivotal in relation to electricity privatisation on the rail networks,” Mr Baird said.

“He was pivotal in relation to the natural environment.”

Mr Baird said Mr Wran was also pivotal on broad parliamentary reform.

“He was a hero of the Labor party but what we want to do today is say that he was someone that made a permanent and positive mark on the state of NSW,” the new premier said.

The state government will announce funeral details in the next day or two.

Mr Wran, who led the Labor government from May 1976 to July 1986, died just before 6pm last night in a nursing home in Elizabeth Bay. His wife Jill Hickson was with him and all his family were close by.

Sad news. Neville Wran helped build NSW incl initiating our sister-state relationship with China's Guangdong province in 1979 #nevillewran — Barry O'Farrell (@barryofarrell) April 20, 2014

Mr Wran suffered from dementia and had been under special care for the past two years.

“This is of course a very sad time for us all but in fact a blessed release for Neville­,’’ Ms Hickson said. “Dementia is a cruel fate and I have been grieving the loss that comes with it for some years. But I hope now, especially in this political climate, people will join me in celebrating­ the life of a great man, a true political hero.”

Ms Hickson paid special tribute to the nursing staff of Lulworth House, who had been caring for the former premier, saying: “They really­ are angels.”

Tributes began flowing from both sides of politics last night.

Vale The Hon. Neville Wran AC, QC, 1926-2014. Tonight NSW lost a true great. pic.twitter.com/w3acE19FPX — NSW Labor (@NSWLabor) April 20, 2014

Farewell Neville Wran 1926-2014 | Malcolm Turnbull MP: http://t.co/QZ8luzAwGs — Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) April 20, 2014

Mr Baird expressed his sadness at the news.

“In the 1970s and 1980s Mr Wran was a towering figure in the NSW Labor Party and in the state. His legacy is positive and lasting,” he said.

Former NSW Labor premier and federal foreign minister Bob Carr said that Mr Wran was “the master” who “showed Labor the way to become the majority­ party of Australia — particularly by leading us back to government. And then winning landslide majorities­ and being re-elected in landslide majorities.

Therese and I extend our condolences to Jill and family on the passing of Neville Wran - a great Australian with a great legacy. Kevin Rudd — Kevin Rudd (@MrKRudd) April 20, 2014

“He was a superb advocate with a great read of public opinion and a command of the common touch. He was earthy and elegant — able to come up with colourful turns of phrase, and with an acute intelligence behind it.

“He often said his landmark achievement was saving the rainforests of NSW, and that’s true.

“And he linked the Labor Party — he was the first modern Labor leader to link the party with the environmental movement.”

Mr Carr, who like Mr Wran served more than a decade as premier and beat his record for continuous service by several months, added of his death: “We knew it was coming. But the memories are vivid, and fond, and instructive.”

Tony Abbott has added his voice to tributes for Neville Wran, on behalf of the Federal Government.

“Mr Wran was one of the most significant figures of his generation,” the Prime Minister said in a statement this morning.

Mr Abbott said orchestrating the redevelopment of Darling Harbour and the building of the Sydney Entertainment Centre were among the former Premier’s achievements.

“Neville Wran made his mark on NSW and Australia.”

Former premier Nick Greiner also paid tribute to Mr Wran.

“I think he was a superb political warrior. Probably the best party political warrior politician,” he said. “As a politician he had the capacity­ to pitch his message superbly­ to each and every different interest group in society.”

Australian Labor Party NSW branch secretary Jamie Clements said Mr Wran was one of the greatest NSW Labor premiers of all time. “He was beloved by the people of NSW,’’ he said. “He had style, panache and was a great social reformer.”

Federal Communications Minister Liberal Malcolm Turnbull, who used to be in business with Mr Wran, last night said Mr Wran “was not one of those politicians solely and cynically focused on being re-elected, devoted to spin. He was a true believer, a doer, a reformer and a builder.

“He was also a tough partisan player, a ferocious political opponent unforgiving in his attacks on the Liberal Opposition and equally formidable as he defended himself from the slings and arrows that came his way.’’

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Former state and federal minister Laurie Brereton said: “Neville was the extraordinary political leader who led the rebuilding of Labor’s fortunes following the

Whitlam dismissal. He was a tough and exacting leader, but a joy to work with. The difficulties the Labor Party has faced in recent times could never have happened under his stewardship.”

Mr Wran dominated NSW politics and gave Labor new heart in one of its blackest periods. Nifty Nev, as he was known, was premier for 10 years and ALP national president for six.

The lawyer from working class Balmain — who famously­ once said Balmain boys don’t cry — was a political­ rarity in deciding when to retire undefeated.