Victoria Police Homicide Squad yesterday announced that it would reopen the case of the shooting murder of Kevin Hugh Pearce, 45, who was gunned down in April, 1985, at a Golden Square transport depot by an unseen killer.

Homicide Squad Senior Sergeant Tim Argall, who will lead the investigative team arriving in Bendigo today, said DNA analysis of items located at the scene had led to a breakthrough that may hold the key to solving one of Bendigo's long-unsolved murder mysteries.

Late on the night of April 15, 1985, Mr Pearce, a mail and cartage contractor, was loading freight into his truck at the McPhee transport depot in Belle Vue Street.

Mr Pearce's wife, Joan, who usually accompanied him on his regular run to Mildura, was not with him on this night, police said at the time.

Mr Pearce's truck was backed into the loading bay, with the 31 fluorescent lights of the depot creating a clear silhouette against the darness outside.

About 11.40pm, while he was having a conversation with depot manager Paul Thompson in the doorway of the depot, a single shot rang out and Mr Pearce was hit in the side by a high-powered .308 bullet.

Reports at the time said the bullet tore through the victim's arm and shattered against his ribcage, with some fragments lodging in his spine.

Mr Pearce was taken to the Austin Hospital, where he died on May 6, 1985, before police had a chance to interview him.

Mr Pearce, who was described as `friendly and obliging", left behind his widow, Joan, and three daughters, Susan, Donna and Melinda.

Police at the time suspected the fatal shot may have been fired from bushes at ground level up to 200 metres away.

Detective Senior Sergeant Robert Richards told a coronial inquest into the killing that he found a spent .308 calibre shell, a Players cigarette packet and three cigarette butts in place where a person had been lying on the grass.

Yesterday, sen-Sgt Argall said an inquest into Mr Pearce's death was conducted by Coroner Hal Hallenstein in 1986.

"Mr Hallenstein found that a person by the name of William Matthews contributed to the death," Sen-Sgt Argall said.

"But this man has never been prosecuted."

Mr Matthews, who would now be aged in his early 60s, lived in Bennett Street at the time of the drama, and was still living in Victoria today, Sen-Sgt Argall said.

He said police were keen to interview a number of people about the case, including Mr Matthews.

Sen-Sgt Argall said Mr Pearce had received no threats prior to the shooting.

"We are keeping an open mind, but it may have been something to do with the business," he said.

Speculation at the time suggested the murder could have been a contract killing.

'`Investigators are confident that someone in the Bendigo area will know something about this case and could assist in bringing this case to a conclusion."

Anyone who can help detectives or has any information about the murder of Kevin Hugh Pearce should phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.