John Cain, Victoria's longest-serving Labor premier, has died at the age of 88.
Mr Cain was a state Labor MP for 16 years and served as premier of Victoria from 1982 until 1990.
He suffered a stroke on December 10 and had been in hospital since.
"It is with great sadness that we advise that John Cain passed away overnight," his family said in a statement on Monday.
"We are grateful John enjoyed good health and remained very active prior to his stroke.
"He is much loved and admired by his family and will be greatly missed."
Former Victorian Premier John Cain. Source: AAP
Former Victorian Labor premier Steve Bracks paid tribute to the man who ended a 27-year run of Liberal governments in Victoria, becoming the first Labor premier since his father John (Jack) Cain.
"He was an honorable man. He was decent. He gave his all to public life," he told reporters.
"He's a great figure in Victoria, a great premier, a great Labor leader, and he will be sorely missed."
Mr Bracks had seen Mr Cain just a week before his stroke, at the opening of the state library's newly refurbished hall.
"John was erudite, he was smart, he was intellectually bright as he always was. He looked fit and healthy so it's a great shock that he has now departed us," he said.
The former premier's legacy included reforms in conservation and national parks, gender equality, affirmative action, prostitution and liquor, Mr Bracks said.
Mr Cain also installed lights at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, developed the Southbank precinct and moved the tennis from suburban Kooyong to Melbourne Park.
"He was the one who set Victoria up significantly for the future," he said
State and federal Labor MPs also took to Twitter to pay tribute to the Labor legend.
Former Victorian Liberal premier Jeff Kennett praised Mr Cain's ethics.
"Very sorry to hear of John Cains death. Very committed Labor man and social justice advocate. As Premier of Victoria had strong views based on good values," Mr Kennett tweeted.
Federal opposition leader Anthony Albanese said Mr Cain transformed Victoria's economy into the strongest in Australia.
"He lowered unemployment. He introduced social reform, such as land rights, which had waited far too long to be introduced in Victoria," Mr Albanese said.
Federal Labor frontbencher Bill Shorten said his thoughts were with the Cain family.
"Rest in peace John Cain, a kind man who helped modernise Victorian Labor and led it to victory in 1982 after 27 years in the wilderness," he shared on Twitter.
Victorian Liberal leader Michael O'Brien noted Mr Cain's reforms, including the liberalisation of shop trading hours and the establishment of the Transport Accident Commission.
"Mr Cain played an important role in modernising the Victorian Labor party and maintained a statesmanlike dignity in his nearly 30 years of political retirement," he said in a statement.
Mr Cain is survived by wife Nancye, daughter Joanne Crothers and sons John and James.
A private funeral is being arranged.
