Gregory Keith Davies was arrested on Thursday morning at the home he shares with his 89-year-old wife in the small Victorian town of Waterford Park, just south of Broadford.

He faced the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday charged with the rape, murder and false imprisonment of the six-year-old who was allegedly snatched while she walked home from a corner shop in Preston.

In court was Kylie's family, including her mother Julie Maybury, a slight woman who kissed the hand of a detective before the short filing hearing began.

Mrs Maybury sat between her daughter - Kylie's younger sister who was just two at the time - and Kylie's uncle, as well as Mrs Maybury's partner.

They kept their arms around Mrs Maybury as Mr Davies sat in the dock.

She kept her eyes on him for most of the hearing, but broke down once, put her head in her hands and cried silently.

Mr Davies, wearing a dark T-shirt, said nothing except to nod and acknowledge when Magistrate John Hardy asked whether he could hear and understand the proceedings.

He glanced around the court room at various stages.

His lawyer said his client needed to see a doctor to treat him for lower back pain from pre-existing back and rib injuries.

Mr Hardy further remanded Mr Davies to appear for a committal mention on September 29.

Mrs Maybury made no statement outside court as she was supported by two cold case homicide detectives down the front steps of the courthouse on William Street.

But in a statement to Fairfax Media on Friday, Kylie's aunt, Meagan Macdonald, said the family welcomed the arrest and charge.

"We hope that justice is service," Ms Macdonald said.

"You can understand though that this has brought up many mixed emotions for us all as Kylie's death lead to a series of tragic events and the eventual deaths of Kylie's grandfather and uncle, due to intense media scrutiny on their private lives even though they were not suspects.

"We hope that the media in the future finally allow our family the privacy they deserve and focus on the real alleged killer."

Kylie's grandfather, John Moss, and uncle, Mark Maybury, took their own lives in separate incidents after the murder.

Kylie was allegedly kidnapped as she was walking home south along Plenty Road, Preston, at 5.30pm on Tuesday, November 6, 1984.

She had been with her mother visiting a neighbour in Gregory Grove when she was sent to a nearby shop to buy sugar.

At 12.45am the next day, her body was found in a gutter in Donald Street, Preston.

Police are still appealing for three witnesses to come forward.

The first is a young Italian girl who approached Kylie's neighbour, Lorna Simpson, while she was searching for her on the corner of Gregory Grove and Plenty Road at the time she was taken.

The girl told Ms Simpson she saw a child fitting Kylie's description in a white station wagon.

A man was driving the car, which turned left onto Murray Road.

The girl then crossed Plenty Road and walked towards a pizza shop.

Detectives have never been able to locate that girl, whom Ms Simpson described as slim and "very attractive".

She would be in her late 40s or early 50s now.

The other two witnesses are anonymous callers who contacted police in 1984 and 1997.

The first called police on November 21, 1984, and told investigators a Holden Kingswood station wagon was involved.

The second caller phoned Crime Stoppers in May 1997 and gave the name of a potential suspect.

Those people are asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.