The man appeared at the Bendigo Magistrates' Court last week on five charges, including recklessly causing injury, conduct endangering life and breaching an intervention order.

His name has been withheld to protect the identity of the victim.

The court heard the man was driving back to Bendigo on February 22 with his partner and four children, the youngest of which was a one-year-old.

An argument broke out while they were driving south on the Midland Highway near Elmore when it was alleged the man began to hit his partner repeatedly.

Leading Senior Constable Darren Scherger said the altercation made the man drive erratically - tailgating, running one car off the road and repeatedly veering towards oncoming traffic - as seen by witnesses in the car in front.

The court heard the man stopped at Goornong where he allegedly dragged his partner from the car by her throat and threw her to the ground.

Leading Senior Constable Scherger said the man was reported as yelling at the victim, "You've taken me to hell, so now I'm taking my kids with me".

The man then removed the two older children from the car and allegedly drove back to Elmore Police Station with the two younger children, the court heard.

There he contacted police who drove up from Bendigo to arrest him, Leading Senior Constable Scherger said.

The court heard the woman feared the man "would wrap their car around a tree" with the children inside after he left her in Goornong.

Photographs tendered to court showed deep scratches to the victim's neck and bruising to her chest.

Witnesses at Goornong also described the incident.

Police said the man was also unlicensed at the time.

Leading Senior Constable Scherger said the victim had assisted police with their inquiries and said she was concerned the man would "come back and kill her" should he be granted bail.

The man's brother and mother offered their residence in Melbourne for bail under strict conditions.

His brother said the accused would not have access to keys or alcohol in the house.

He said the family would "be happy" to have him live at their home.

Magistrate Jennifer Tregent denied bail however, and said it would be relatively straight forward for the man to travel to Bendigo from Melbourne.

She said the fact the victim had been willing to assist police meant she had genuine fears for her safety.

"The usual case is the complainant feels over worn by the process, but at this point in time the complainant is standing firm," Magistrate Tregent said.

"By denying bail, I am giving the time and distance for her to make herself safe, because he will eventually be out of custody."

The man will reappear at the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on March 26.