“Should you have visited the hill in the past two to three days, and noticed anyone appearing slightly confused or improperly dressed for the weather, we are extremely eager to hear from you,” he informed reporters on Saturday.

The bodies were discovered by other hikers on Friday afternoon. Source: Supplied / Victoria Police

Hargreaves said the conditions were “exceptionally hard”, noting the weather could quickly turn “dangerous and unfavourable”.

It comes as the region’s snow season draws to a close, with Falls Creek and Mount Hotham ski resorts closing their lifts this weekend.

The Victoria Police air wing was used to help recover the bodies. Credit: Victoria Police / Supplied

The tragedy follows a separate incident in Tasmania, where police recovered a large group from a remote part of the state’s southwest.