Elderly couple Doyne Caspersz, wife Marlene found dead at Warrandyte home

Devastated neighbours have told of their shock after an avid gardener and his much-loved wife were found dead at a property in an affluent suburb in Melbourne’s northeast.

The bodies of an elderly couple have been found on Antigoni Court in Warrandyte. Picture: NCA Newswire

An avid gardener and his wife have been identified as the elderly couple who were found dead in Melbourne’s northeast on Tuesday.

Doyne Caspersz and his wife Marlene were found deceased at their Antigoni Court double-storey home in Warrandyte about 9.30am this morning.

Victoria Police say the circumstances surrounding the deaths are yet to be determined.

It’s believed the couple were aged in their 70s and 80s.

A crime scene was swiftly established in the leafy outer suburb but was taken down about noon.

The Herald Sun understands at least one of the pair was found deceased in their car.

Doyne Caspersz has been found dead at a Warrandyte home.

Neighbour Don Savoria said Mr Caspersz was always pottering around in his front and back gardens.

Mr Savoria said they were a “very friendly” couple who would always be there to help their neighbours.

“We were very good friends — if he needed something, he’d call me,” he said as his eyes welled with tears.

“If he couldn’t start his ride-on mower, I’d go over and help him out; that’s what neighbours do.

“If I needed something, I’d call on him. We cut a tree down years ago and left the tree stump six foot high. I was using my chainsaw and it just stopped. So I rang Doyne (to help).

“He brought another chainsaw over and we did the job, that’s basically how we were.

“To me, your neighbours are better than friends or relatives, because they’re there. In an instant you need something, they’re here right away.

Police at the scene where Doyne and Marlene Caspersz were found dead. Picture: Supplied

“I know that his son didn’t want him to do any gardening because of his age, but mainly because he wanted (Mr Caspersz) to look after his mum (Marlene) because she wasn’t well.”

Mr Caspersz was also a prominent member of Melbourne’s Sri Lankan community.

At one point he was the vice president of the Australian Burgher Association, an organisation that represents Australian descendants of a small Eurasian group in Sri Lanka made up of Dutch, British and Portuguese settlers in Ceylon.

Australian Burgher Association president Hermann Loos said Mr Caspersz had represented the Sri Lankan community in Australia since the 1980s.

Mr Loos said he was in “total shock” as he heard of his friend’s passing on Tuesday.

“He implemented so many things with the Burgher Association that made it what it is today,” he told the Herald Sun.

“He was a kind-hearted person, he was very fond of the Burgher community and he wanted to make sure they were part of the multicultural society that we are today.

“He was adamant that everyone that came to Australia from Sri Lanka had a good time and enjoyed themselves with good company.

“He did a lot for us.

“I just cannot believe it, for them to both go at the same time is an impossibility.”

Police probe the circumstances surrounding the couple’s deaths. Picture: NCA Newswire

Neighbours say they saw the couple going about their days as normal on Sunday and Monday.

Another Antigoni Court resident said the pair were friendly and often kept to themselves, but would wave to their fellow neighbours when passing by in the street.

One neighbour, who wished not to be named, told the Herald Sun he had been good friends with the man.

“It is a shock to me and to their family,” he said.

“It is a tragedy.”

Victoria Police confirmed they were awaiting the results of a post-mortem to determine the causes of death, and whether there were any suspicious circumstances.

The quiet, wealthy street where the couple lived is regarded as “Millionaires’ Row”. Located 24km northeast of Melbourne CBD, Warrandyte is a largely affluent area with a median income well above the state and nationwide average.

Antigoni Court is full of spacious double-storey homes and accompanying tennis courts, pools and gardens.

Property sale price on Antigoni Circuit during February 2024 ranged from $2m to as high as almost $3.3m.

Victoria Police confirmed they were awaiting the results of a post-mortem to determine the causes of death, and whether there were any suspicious circumstances.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.