Police searching for missing Ballarat mother-of-four Kobie Parfitt have found human remains down a mine shaft in Snake Valley, south-west of Ballarat.

Detectives from the Missing Persons Squad and Search and Rescue Squad discovered the remains about 1:30pm on Tuesday in the mine shaft near Kelly’s Track.

A Victoria Police statement said the remains were yet to be formally identified.

Detectives yesterday spoke to a 31-year-old Mount Clear woman in relation to Ms Parfitt’s disappearance, the statement said, but she was released without charge.

Investigators were expected to speak to other people in coming days.

“Detectives have already searched a number of properties and spoke to a number of people in relation to the 43-year-old’s disappearance in April,” the statement said.

“They have been able to confirm Kobie was last seen alive at a property on Hickman Street on 28 April.”

Police last month said her family was grieving, despite having been estranged from Ms Parfitt.

Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper said at the time Ms Parfitt had lived a “challenging life”.

“She had been distanced from her family for a number of years because of those challenges, which were around drugs and crime,” Detective Inspector Stamper said

“They want the answers as to what happened to Kobie.

“They loved their daughter, there’s four kids that love their mother as well.”

Anyone who has any information about Ms Parfitt’s disappearance has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or the Crime Stoppers website.

-ABC