Neville Wran has been remembered as one of the country's greatest politicians, with Labor veteran Bob Carr saying the former NSW premier could have become prime minister.
Mr Carr, who overtook Mr Wran's record as NSW's longest continuous serving premier, believes the boy from Balmain could have been the country's leader.
"Neville might have beaten Bob Hawke for the federal Labor leadership, but I think he was very reluctant to give up running NSW," Mr Carr told reporters in Sydney on Monday.
"He relished the use of power in good causes, and you don't surrender that easily for the prospect of being marooned in opposition in Canberra."
Mr Hawke said he was saddened by Mr Wran's death, praising him for the "enormous contribution" he made to NSW.
"Aside from that, he was a very important part of the councils of the Labor party nationally, always ensuring the ALP was relevant to the challenges of the time," he told AAP.
Despite being put into power by the NSW Right, Mr Wran was "never captive" to the factions, Mr Hawke said. "He was a pragmatist, his own man. We have much to thank him for."
Mr Wran, who led the state between 1976 and 1986, died in Sydney on Sunday aged 87 after a long battle with dementia.
Wran one of the most significant figures of his generation: PM
Tony Abbott has described former NSW premier Neville Wran as one of the most significant figures of his generation.
"On behalf of the Australian Government I acknowledge the passing of Neville Wran AC CNZM QC," Mr Abbott said in a statement issued on Monday.
He noted Mr Wran's achievements as premier from 1976 to 1986 included orchestrating the redevelopment of Darling Harbour and building the Sydney Entertainment Centre.
NSW Premier Mike Baird said Mr Wran was a towering figure in the NSW Labor Party and in the state during the 1970s and 80s.
"His legacy is positive and lasting," he said.
NSW Opposition Leader John Robertson described Mr Wran as a giant of the Labor Party and one of the great leaders of his party and the state.
Former NSW premier Kristina Keneally tweeted: "Neville Wran was a great man, a true gentleman and a visionary Labor leader. We are all better for his life. God bless."
Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he couldn't have asked for a better friend and colleague in Mr Wran.
They met when Mr Turnbull worked as a journalist at NSW parliament and later went into business together in OzEmail.
"He was able to achieve a lot in NSW - to do a lot - and at the same time maintain high levels of popularity," the federal Liberal frontbencher told ABC radio on Monday.
"He was not an old person in the way he thought about things. He was always a lateral thinker and very much focused on getting something done.
"This was the distinctive thing about Neville as a politician. He got into politics to do things, and he did."
Wran achieved landmark social reforms: Iemma
Former NSW premier Morris Iemma said Mr Wran was a pivotal leader of the Labor party.
"He achieved landmark constitutional change and landmark social reforms," Mr Iemma told the Seven Network.
"He also built massive infrastructure, which set the state up.
"He was a heavyweight and he was an undefeated heavyweight champion of New South Wales and indeed national politics."
Mr Iemma said Mr Wran had a "towering intellect", an uncanny ability to pick the mood of the electorate, and was in touch with ordinary people, from the bush to the city.
Another former Labor premier Nathan Rees said one of Mr Wran's biggest legacies was the University of Western Sydney.
"He made it happen. The federal government wanted to make it a TAFE and he said, frankly, `bugger that' we're going to make it a university," he told ABC radio.
