Affectionately known as Kenny, he was one of nine children and his only surviving sibling, his brother Ron, pleaded with the public help solve the crime. 

“We just want anyone with any information to come forward,” he said. 

The police made it clear on Wednesday morning they believed the Springbank public held the key to solving the death, which is being investigated by the homicide squad. 

“He was a good person, very easy going and worked hard all of his life,” Ron said.

He also said his brother was a RAAF World War II veteran. 

While Ron’s wife Doreen remembered Mr Handford’s interest in the local trash and treasure market, which he attended every week. 

“He used to go up to the market every Sunday rain, hail or shine, he would be at the gate at 8 o’clock, they all knew him up there,” she said. 

A neighbour found Mr Handford’s body at 1.25pm on Tuesday on what would have been his 90th birthday.

It is believed Mr Handford was found tied-up and suffering assault injuries in his bedroom at the Springbank property. Police have refused to comment on these details, but did say the normally tidy house appeared like it had been searched, with drawers left open.

His niece Leonie Handford said his family had "no doubt" someone had broken into the home to steal from him.

"He had a really bad habit of carrying around money," she said.

She said her family only hoped her uncle did not suffer.

"That's my only fear, that we weren't there to help him. We don't know what he went through," she said.

"To go out like this, it's wrong, it's so wrong."

 Mr Handford was one of nine children and was born and bred in Ballarat north and was the father to two adult children - Peter and Margaret.

"Dad was an ex-RAAF member who fought in the Second World War and did not deserve to die under such circumstances. We loved him deeply and cannot understand how anyone could do this to him," his children said in a statement.

Mr Handford and his wife Carmen had moved out to Springbank, 15 kilometres from Ballarat, about a decade ago, shifting into a farmhouse belonging to the Maher family, who were long-term friends of the family that Mr Handford harvested potatoes for.

Mr Handford's wife Carmen died in 2012. 

Though he retired from his work with Telecom years ago, he continued working part-time selling farm equipment through word-of-mouth, as well as doing odd jobs on the property.

He had a pace maker inserted in in recent months, but his neighbours and family said he was still healthy.

"He said he had never felt better," Ms Handford said.

"He never backed down."

They said he was also security conscious, locking his doors and windows at night and would not have opened the door to someone he didn't know.

Kevin Maher and his wife Mary lived across the road from Mr Handford and they were potentially one of the last to see him alive. Though investigators say he was seen by another neighbour who had coffee with him on Sunday and left at midday, Mr Maher told Fairfax Media he saw Mr Handford in his front yard at 4.30pm.

By early evening, detectives said calls to his home phone and mobile went unanswered.

The Mahers said they did not see, nor hear anything unusual, until their sister-in-law went around to the house on Tuesday afternoon to wish Mr Handford a happy birthday.

The sister-in-law went straight around to the back door - the front door was never used - and found it open. She then made the terrible discovery.

The Mahers said there had been a spate of thefts from farms in the area; three months ago they themselves had diesel stolen. 

Homicide Squad head, Detective Inspector Mick Hughes, said it was too early to say how or why Mr Handford had been killed or whether anything had been taken from his home.

Inspector Hughes said the key to solving the mystery death will be in the community.

"We believe the key lies in that community. You can't drive in and out of there without being seen," Inspector Hughes said.

"It is a really tight-knit community and I'm calling on that community (to come forward) if they've seen anything suspicious."

Police are appealing for anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the area in recent days to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au