Two members of the public discovered the suitcase while driving through Oallen, about 125 miles southwest of Sydney, on Sunday. They opened it and reported what appeared to be the remains of a human body.

Police established a crime scene but did not initially examine the contents in detail.

Superintendent Linda Bradbury said officers “don’t like to disturb remains too much in situ, particularly when we have faced inclement weather, as we did yesterday and again today.”

Forensic examinations later established that “the item located in the bag was a lifelike doll, wearing clothing, with hair and a nose piercing,” police said in a statement on Monday.

“The item also had markings that resembled bruises and grazes,” the statement added.

Ms Bradbury said the doll was “very realistic in terms of looking like human remains”.