Sandra Maree Dean, 55, faced Mackay Magistrates Court on Friday after her mother was found dead at their relatives’ north Queensland home.

Police said an ambulance arrived at a Glenella property on Thursday morning responding to a call that an elderly woman had suffered a fall.

However, officers were contacted after paramedics found the woman’s injuries did not appear consistent with a fall, Detective Inspector Emma Novosel said.

“She had sustained some significant head injuries,” Insp Novosel told reporters.

Dean and her mother had been staying with relatives after arriving from Bundaberg just days earlier.

The mother’s body was found in a makeshift bedroom in a garage on the property.

“As I understand it was an ordinary morning,”  Insp Novosel said.

“The people who reside in the house normally had left to go about their day’s business, leaving the deceased woman and her daughter in the home.

“We understand from investigations that she (mother) was alive and well earlier in the morning.”

By the time police arrived a number of people were at the address including Dean and she was taken into custody, Insp Novosel said.

Police said children lived at the property but were “likely not present” when the alleged incident occurred.

Insp Novosel said Dean was known to police but there was no reported domestic violence history between the mother and daughter.

“At this stage, we have been unable to locate any sort of weapon (at the residence),” she said.

Dean was charged with one count of murder (domestic violence offence) before her court appearance by video link on Friday morning.

She was remanded in custody to return to court on Monday.