Former Northern Territory Administrator and solicitor-general Tom Pauling has died.

In a statement his family said Mr Pauling died peacefully at home on Thursday, aged 76.

Mr Pauling’s daughter Zoe Passmore told ABC radio Darwin her father had died from cancer after being diagnosed last November.

The family statement said Mr Pauling arrived in the NT in 1970 after answering an ad for a solicitor posted by Cridland and Bauer, and practised law as a solicitor and in-house counsel before joining the newly formed independent bar.

After Cyclone Tracy in 1974 Mr Pauling helped with the relief effort to evacuate thousands of Territorians from Darwin under the command of Major General Stretton.

His family said he was appointed Queens Counsel in 1984, and had practiced as a barrister until his appointment as solicitor-general in 1988, apart from a brief period as a stipendiary magistrate and acting chief magistrate between 1977 and 1980.

He was the NT’s 19th Administrator, from 2007 until 2011.

“Tom made a significant contribution to Territory life. He was an enthusiastic supporter of Browns Mart theatre and the performing arts. Tom was instrumental in establishing the Darwin Performing Arts Centre which became the Darwin Entertainment Centre, and served as chairman from 1985 to 1994,” his family wrote.

Mr Pauling also served as Museums and Art Gallery NT board chair from 1994 to 1997.

He was appointed an officer of the Order of Australia for significant services to the Northern Territory in 2008.

In a statement Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said Mr Pauling was a great Territorian who would be dearly missed.

“He was larger than life, involved in the arts, and creative space, Tom was present at nearly every Territory event, with a warm smile and laugh,” she said.

“In September 2007 Mr Pauling was appointed the Administrator of the Northern Territory. He spent the next four years travelling the Territory, listening to Territorians and being an advocate for them.”

He is survived by his wife Tessa Pauling, their two children Fred and Zoe, and four grandchildren Millie, Alice, Azlyn and Eliza.