A new image has been released of a man who has only been known as a number for three decades since his battered body was dumped in Melbourne.

Officers hope the new picture will help finally identify the man, who had been stabbed and beaten and dumped.

His body was found in long grass a dirt road in Roxburgh Park in the city’s north in 1995.

Homicide Squad Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said the man has only been known by a number: 1238/95.

“We don’t know his name, where he was from, who is family was, how he lived his life,” Thomas said.

“We also don’t know how he came to be lying on that dirt road in Roxburgh Park and the circumstances that led up to his death.

“I do believe there could still be people out there who know who this man is and we’re hopeful that someone will see these images and be in a position to come forward and speak to police.

“It has been a genuine mystery and one that we are exceptionally keen to solve.”

The man was found by two people driving near North Point Business Park, near the Cliffords Road side, at 10am on May 1, 1995.

He was aged 25 to 35, Caucasion, 179cm tall, with a solid build, medium length brown hair which was slightly receding.

He has brown eyes, a medium complexion and a scar under his right arm.

He was wearing a navy blue jumper, grey Nike t-shirt and shorts, but no shoes.

The only clue police have came from a previous appeal.

Somebody said they had seen a man fitting that description outside a home on Sorbonne Drive in Sunbury – 17km away – about 6.40pm the night before.

They told police a man with severe facial injuries and a bleeding head wound had knocked on the door.

Whoever answered, closed the door and called emergency services.

But when they went back, he’d gone.

No fingerprints or dental records fit the man, either in Australia or overseas.