The brother of a young Queensland woman fatally stabbed in a suspected murder in northern Tasmania says she will be missed forever.
Gabrielle McCarthy, 23, was found dead in the early hours of Tuesday at a friend's home in the small coastal town of Ulverstone.
A man who was arrested at a house on the same street later that morning is in police custody and is expected to be charged on Wednesday night.
Investigators have said Ms McCarthy suffered knife wounds "consistent with being murdered".
"A beautiful soul who wanted nothing but peace in her life was taken away from us," her brother Casey posted on Facebook.
"Gabs, we love you, we're sorry we couldn't protect you and I'm awfully sorry this happened to you. We love you always sweetheart, and will forever miss you.
"May you now be in peace my beautiful baby sister."
He said Gabrielle moved to Tasmania three weeks ago and was trying to turn her life around.
Police say her friend called triple zero around 3am on Tuesday to report a man "prowling" in the house.
She stayed on the line for 11 minutes. In that time, officers arrived and discovered Gabrielle's body in a room.
There is no known link between Gabrielle and the man, investigators say.
On Wednesday, police continued to gather evidence from the house where the man was arrested and blocked off an area in between that property and the crime scene.
Anyone who may have seen anything suspicious has been asked to come forward.
