Police investigating a 44-year-old cold case have begun digging up the backyard of a home in Melbourne's west.
Veronica Catherine Green, who would now be 82, has been missing for more than 40 years.
She was 38 when she disappeared, leaving behind two children aged seven and 14.
The backyard of Ms Green's former home in Ardeer in Melbourne's west will be dug up for about five days as authorities search for clues about her disappearance.
Victoria Police Detective Sergeant Allan Wood said over the course of their investigation officers had received "bits and pieces of information" that led to the decision to dig up the backyard.
"We hope to find anything that will give us an indication of what happened," he said.
"We can't rule out the possibility we might find human remains."
Sergeant Wood said Ms Green was last seen on February 13, 1976.
Her husband, who died in 2006, reported her missing two days later.
Ms Green's two children have not had any contact with her since her disappearance.
Sergeant Wood said detectives would focus on an area where a swimming pool was installed after the disappearance.
"We can't rule out foul play at this stage," he said.
Sergeant Wood said Ms Green had a "difficult marriage" but investigators were not sure if that was an important factor in the case.
Sergeant Wood said the current owners of the home were not connected to the investigation in any way.
Investigators are encouraging anyone who may have any information about Ms Green's disappearance to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report online.
