Recovery efforts are ongoing in a region completely decimated by raging bushfires, though for many, the future remains uncertain.
Two major Victorian bushfires are expected to burn for weeks, including the Longwood blaze in the state's north.
Cooler conditions could offer some relief to firefighting efforts, but for many small communities, the damage has already been done.
Police confirmed on Sunday that human remains had been found near a fire-affected road at Gobur, a remote area east of Seymour.
The remains are yet to be identified, but were discovered 100 metres from a car.
Three people remained missing in the dozens of fires burning on Friday amid a severe heatwave, in what state authorities described as the worst bushfires since the 2019-2020 Black Summer blazes. (Source: 1News)
The fire-affected patch was scorched when the roaring Longwood fire moved through on Friday.
Paddocks are littered with the remains of animals and livestock that did not make it to safety.
Ruffy Country Fire Authority Captain George Noye told AAP half of the small town's residents had lost either their homes or a structure.
The local primary school is also unrecognisable after being burned to the ground.
"It's unbelievable how wide this fire is. Many people left early," Noye said.
"It could have been a lot worse with the conditions that we had."
The Longwood fire has covered about 136,000 hectares since it started amid catastrophic conditions.
The fire is still burning as crews work to clear roads so assistance and relief can flow.
More than 350,000ha have burned and more than 300 properties have been lost in the state after summer heatwaves spurred out-of-control bushfires.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Jacinta Allan visited the regional town of Bendigo on Sunday, where they announced funding relief for residents hit hard by the fires.
Residents in communities most impacted by the bushfires can claim a one-off disaster recovery payment of AU$1000 (NZ$1166) for each adult and AU$400 (NZ$466) per child as part of a AU$19.5 million (NZ$22.7 million) package.
An AU$10 million (NZ$11.6 million) program to help distribute fodder to farmers in need will be rolled out as part of the package.
The leaders also visited the small community of Harcourt, where they witnessed the devastation firsthand.
At least 50 homes and structures have been lost to the fire, which continues to burn.
A state of emergency has been declared for 18 local government areas.
Several emergency-level blazes were dotted across the state but firefighting efforts were concentrated on a huge blaze in Victoria's centre and another in the northeast, near the NSW border.
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