Homicide detectives have taken over the investigation into the disappearance of a young Irish woman in Australia after her handbag was found on a street near to where she went missing.

Jill Meagher is originally from Drogheda in Co. Louth.

She was last seen at about 1:30am on Saturday when she left friends at a bar in Melbourne to walk the short distance home.

The handbag of the 29-year-old was found this morning in a lane close to the pub which is only about 700 metres from her home.

It has also emerged that missing the Irish woman made a worried telephone call to her brother in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Police in Melbourne say homicide detectives take on ‘any case of a suspicious nature where a person goes missing and there is a possibility they may have been met with foul play’.

She is described as being of a fair complexion, 165cms tall, slim build, long curly black hair and brown eyes.

She was wearing a blue dress, black jacket, black patterned stockings and high heels.

Police are concerned that the disappearance is out of character.

Police have established a crime scene at that location and will continue to search the local area and speak to residents.

Investigators are appealing for anyone with information about her whereabouts to contact police and in particular would like to speak to anyone who was at Bar Etiquette or Brunswick Green in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Tim Pope is a reporter with ABC in Melbourne.

He told Breakfast here on Newstalk that an update is expected soon.

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