Man faces SA court over cold-case murder

Geoffrey Adams has faced court charged with murdering his wife Colleen, as police recovered her remains 45 years after she went missing on South Australia's Yorke Peninsula.

Police arrested 70-year-old Adams at his Wallaroo home on Wednesday afternoon, before travelling with him to the property at Maitland where the couple lived with their children.

Mrs Adams' remains were discovered on the site of the couple's former home about 1pm on Thursday after police began excavation work in the morning.

Adams appeared by video-link in Kadina Magistrates Court, after he spent the night in custody at Port Pirie.

He did not apply for bail and was remanded to reappear before the court in October.