Former NSW Nationals leader and deputy premier Ian Armstrong dies, aged 83

Deputy Leader of The Nationals Paul Toole paid tribute to the former deputy premier and NSW Nationals leader on Wednesday following news of Mr Armstrong's death aged 83.

Mr Armstrong served in the NSW Parliament as the Member for Lachlan between 1981 and 2007 and was deputy premier under Premier John Fahey from 1993-1995.

He is remembered as a passionate advocate for rural and regional NSW and was a driving force behind the decentralisation of the now DPIE, which moved locations to a new building, fittingly called the Ian Armstrong Building, in November.

After leaving parliament he kept up the fight for better transport links between Sydney and the Central West as the chairman of the Bells Line Expressway Group, and was regularly in Bathurst meeting interested stakeholders.

Mr Toole said the Central West had lost a "fine gentleman".

"Ian Armstrong was a true champion for the bush," he said.

"A giant of the Nats, he knew what it took to make regional economies hum and fought to make it a reality, creating jobs in the regions and advocating for stronger connections over the mountains to the Central West.

"It took hours to walk through a room with Ian - he knew everyone and, more importantly, cared about the issues that mattered to them."

Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Deputy Premier John Barilaro issued a joint press release to announce Mr Armstrong's death and to pay tribute to his contribution to NSW.

"Ian embodied what it is to be a rural advocate, having been responsible for ensuring public servants work in the regional communities they represent and relocating the Department of Agriculture to Orange in 1992, the single largest decentralisation process undertaken by a Government department," they said.

"Ian also served as Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and the list of community organisations and boards he volunteered for during his lifetime was significant, signifying a life dedicated to serving and representing regional people.

"Despite his substantive contributions as a Minister and as Deputy Premier, his commitment to his electorate of Lachlan never wavered and the area still benefits from his legacy as local member.

"Ian will be dearly missed and his tireless work for the people of NSW and to the NSW Nationals will live on forever."

Mr Armstrong was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1978 and appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2009.

The NSW Government has offered a state service to Mr Armstrong's family.