Wanted father, son move towards Melbourne

Victorian police believe they've narrowed the hunt for two of Australia's most wanted fugitives to an area north-east of Melbourne.

Police descended on the small town of Yea, about 100km north of Melbourne, on Wednesday morning after a duo matching descriptions of Queenslanders Gino Stocco, 58, and his son Mark, 35, was spotted at a service station in Euroa on Monday night.

Officers believe the dangerous father and son are within a 100-square kilometre area encompassing Yea, Marysville, Yarra Glen, and Kinglake.

Police have not begun searching nearby bushland but officers are standing by for a large-scale search.

"We're appealing to them to hand themselves in," Detective Inspector Ian Campbell told reporters outside a command post that police have set up in Yea.

The men, who have avoided police for several years, are wanted for string of criminal offences in Queensland and NSW.

It is alleged they opened fire on police in two separate incidents in country NSW on Friday.

The father and son have a number of contacts in many parts of Victoria, NSW Police said.

They worked in Yea in 2010 and were last in the area in 2014, Victoria Police say.

"They're not that well known here in Victoria," Insp Campbell said.

NSW authorities have described the Stoccos as armed and dangerous, but police in Victoria do not think they are a threat to the community.

"There's certainly no threat posed, that we know of, towards the public," acting Superintendent Dan Trimble said.

Locals should be vigilant and call Triple 0 immediately if they spot the pair.

Anyone who notices a missing vehicle or stolen number plates should also report it to police.

There's a possibility the Stoccos have abandoned the stolen Toyota Landcruiser - which has a distinctive white bull bar and can travel up to 800km between refills - they were driving.

"It is quite possible they may have swapped vehicles," Insp Campbell said.