A homicide squad investigation is underway after construction workers unexpectedly uncovered human remains in a backyard on Victoria’s Phillip Island yesterday.

The discovery has sparked public speculation that the remains could be linked to the island’s most well-known murder mystery, although police have neither confirmed nor ruled out any connection.

A skull and bones were found in a shallow grave in the backyard of homeowner Greg, prompting widespread rumours across the island. Many locals believe the remains could be connected to the disappearance of Vivienne Cameron, a mother who vanished in 1986.

“The phone was blowing up, our socials were blowing up,” Greg told 9News, describing the intense public reaction following the discovery.

It has been nearly 40 years since Cameron went missing. Police theories, supported by coronial inquests, concluded that she killed her husband’s mistress, Beth Barnard, before taking her own life. However, Cameron’s body was never found, and the theory has long been questioned by locals.

Crime author Vikki Petraitis, who has written about Cameron’s disappearance, said many island residents do not believe the official version of events. She noted that whenever remains are discovered, it naturally revives speculation about Cameron’s fate.

The property where the remains were found was built on a vacant block in the 1980s and had been used as a holiday home for many years, with numerous visitors over time.

Police said forensic testing will determine the identity of the remains, a process expected to take several months. Although officers initially indicated they would search the site for several days, the excavation was completed within hours after they recovered what they believed was necessary.

Greg said he hopes the investigation will provide long-awaited answers, adding that it would be meaningful if someone finally received closure.