Neighbours heard screams coming from a unit in St Albans early Thursday morning, shortly after a woman was stabbed to death and died on her way to hospital.
Police responded to reports "that a female had been stabbed" at a property on Main Road East in St Albans just before 12.30am, a police spokeswoman said.
"Emergency services attended and located the woman with life threatening injuries," she said.
The woman, who is yet to be identified, died on her way to Royal Melbourne Hospital.
"The exact circumstances surrounding the death are yet to be determined but investigators are treating the woman's death as suspicious," the spokeswoman said.
A neighbour, named Iris, said she heard a woman loudly screaming and crying at about 1am.
She said she did not know the people who lived in the block of units.
"After I hear 'are you OK, are you OK?' and then nothing else," she said.
"I feel very upset and nervous, it's no good something like that happening next door."
Homicide squad detectives are at the Main Road East property, where a crime scene has been established.
Another woman, who did not want to be named, said her husband heard screaming from their house, about 300 metres away.
"It's very scary, I won't be coming past here any more," she said.
Police have taped off several properties, and a pole next to one of the units is covered in blood. A towel was next to the bloody pole, but has since been removed by detectives.
Forensic police have been taking photos of large amounts of blood splattered on the driveway in the block of units.
Bags of evidence were removed from the house by detectives just before 8am. One of the brown bags is labelled "contents of cream and black handbag located o/s front door".
Detectives remained at the scene at 11am, and were paying close attention to a white Holden sedan in the driveway, heavily dusting it for fingerprints.
Police were also checking the surrounding area for other evidence, including fresh cigarette butts, while door-knocking nearby properties.
Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Crime scene at St Albans where a woman was fatally stabbed overnight. @9NewsMelb pic.twitter.com/766kRlmDim
— Madeline Slattery (@maddieslattery) February 1, 2017