David Whitelegg, 53, was charged during the early hours of Tuesday morning with the murder of his wife, Anne, also in her 50s, between Thursday and Sunday at their home in Wallan, north of Melbourne.

Her body was found on Sunday.

Mr Whitelegg made a brief appearance in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday where he made no application for bail.

Wearing a fleece jumper, he appeared alert and glanced around the courtroom as he sat in the dock between two security guards.

His lawyer, Peter Chadwick, QC, told magistrate Andrew Capell his client needed to receive medication for a prostate condition while in custody.

The prosecution told the court footage from security cameras would be formatted and a DNA forensic report completed.

Mr Whitelegg was remanded to reappear at a committal mention on March 5.