In a startling discovery that has sent shockwaves through a popular Victorian tourist community, human remains have been excavated from the backyard of a holiday home on Phillip Island.
Plumbers Make Grisly Discovery
The bones were found on Thursday morning, about 8.35am, at a property on Hazelwood Court in the quiet area of Silverleaves. A team of plumbers was digging a trench roughly 50 centimetres deep to replace a sewer pipe when one worker made the grim find.
Witness Riley Weinzierl described the moment to 7NEWS. "He just pulled a bit of sand out and emptied his bucket, and that's when he saw the human head," Weinzierl said. The work immediately halted as the crew inspected the area, locating several more bones scattered in the sand.
Weinzierl noted a significant detail: no clothing was found at the site. The workers did not continue digging further, promptly alerting the authorities to their discovery.
Major Police Investigation Launched
Victoria Police responded swiftly, with detectives from the Homicide Squad attending the scene to establish a formal crime scene. The Missing Persons Squad has also been notified of the development.
Forensic specialists are now tasked with the delicate process of carefully removing the remains for analysis and testing. Police have indicated that this forensic work could take several days before any results are known.
Initial assessments by investigators suggest the bones are from some time ago, potentially dating back several decades. The holiday home in question was built in the mid-1980s. The original owners resided there for approximately two decades before it was converted primarily into a holiday rental.
This history means that over the years, potentially hundreds of people have stayed at the property, complicating the initial stages of the investigation.
Community Speculation and Police Caution
The discovery has ignited speculation among long-time residents of Phillip Island, with many wondering if the remains could be linked to the infamous cold case of Vivienne Cameron, a local woman who vanished and is presumed dead since 1986.
However, police have been quick to temper these theories, stating it is far too soon to confirm any connection to that or any other specific case. The investigation remains open and active.
Authorities are urging anyone with information that could assist the investigation to contact Crime Stoppers immediately.
