A man found dead on the footpath outside a Centrelink office in regional Victoria may had been there for hours before his body was found by police, residents say.

Police are investigating after the man's body was discovered on Maude Street, Shepparton about 7.20am on Monday.

Centrelink office on Maude Street in Shepparton

A couple living nearby say they saw someone slumped on the pavement on Sunday night but fearing for their own safety they didn't investigate, or call triple-O.

Temperatures in the town fell to a chilly 1.9 degrees overnight.