Human skeleton found leaning against tree on south-east Queensland property

A police investigation has been launched after a human skeleton was discovered sitting against a tree on a property near Stanthorpe, in south-east Queensland.

A member of the public discovered the remains in Glen Aplin, south of Stanthorpe in the Darling Downs region, on Thursday.

Police are treating the death as suspicious until proven otherwise, with forensic examiners expected to search for an "signs of trauma or violence that would indicate death as a result of foul play".

Identifying the remains and establishing a cause of death could take up to six months given the state of decomposition, Detective Inspector David Isherwood said.

"The fact that they've gone to nearly all skeletal remains would indicate they've been there for some time," he told Fairfax Media.

The remains were found about 150 to 200m from the road and nearest house.