Police are investigating the deaths of a woman and child, found outside apartments in Box Hill on Thursday night.
They were responding to reports that a woman was found unresponsive outside the flats on Prospect Street shortly before 6.20pm.
“An unresponsive child was discovered a short time later, nearby,” police revealed in a late-night statement.
They say the woman and primary-school-aged child could not be revived and died at the scene.
The area had been cordoned off late Thursday while detectives investigated their deaths.
At this stage, police said they were not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.