Mr Ardill, who died on April 4 aged 83, was a Trustee of Newstead House and the councillor for Sunnybank under Labor mayors Clem Jones and Frank Sleeman.

He became the city's deputy mayor and was then elected Sunnybank's MP in 1986, until he shifted to the seat of Archerfield in 1992 which he held until he retired in 1998.

As a state MP, Mr Ardill served on state parliament's TravelSafe Committee.

Mr Gibson said Brisbane owed Mr Ardill - with his trademark sideburns and moustache - a debt of thanks.

"He was a champion of this city's heritage ... and a lover of anything and everything to do with trains," Mr Gibson said.

"He was for me at least, very much a hero and I hope his passing will not go unnoticed."

Mr Ardill was Labor councillor for the former ward of Sunnybank from 1973 to 1985. He was vice mayor between 1982 and 1985.

He was chair of finance, works and transport-related committees from 1976 when he was appointed to civic cabinet.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk was elected to the Sunnybank Ward in 1985 when Len Ardill departed for state parliament.

Cr Quirk said Mr Ardill was proud of his community links.

"Len was a highly identifiable character with strong convictions who was easily identified by his mutton chop side levers,' Cr Quirk said.

"He was a genuine character committed to his local community."

Brisbane City Council Opposition Leader Cr Milton Dick said Mr Ardill served the city with distinction for 20 years.

“He was the type of guy who rolled up his sleeves and just got on with the job; something he probably learnt as a child helping out on the milk run while the men were away for the war," Cr Dick said.

“Len believed in grass-roots activism and came to Brisbane City Council following years of volunteering on school committees and joining the local Progress Association and Australian Labor Party.

“He was a strong advocate for public transport and for appropriate planning."

Mr Ardill became chair of Brisbane City Council's town planning committee.

Cr Dick said Mr Ardill believed one of the important factors of the Brisbane City Plan was to make sure there was sufficient parkland for a growing city.

“Len strongly believed that the town plan was there to protect residents from overdevelopment and that the future liability of our City was dependent on the availability of parkland," he said.

“The City of Brisbane is better because of Len Ardill and my thoughts are with his family during this time."

A funeral will be held on Thursday, April 10 at 3pm at the Mt Gravatt Cemetery 582 Mains Road at Macgregor.