A New South Wales man charged with murdering a wheelchair-bound woman by setting her on fire has been refused bail in his first court appearance.

Police say the 50-year-old woman was doused with methylated spirits and set alight during a domestic dispute at a house in Narromine in the central west of New South Wales about 9:30pm (AEDT).

Neighbours rushed to the house and put out the flames, but not before the woman suffered serious burns to her face, arms and stomach.

Emergency services rushed her to Dubbo Base Hospital and she was then flown to Sydney's St George Hospital, where she died this morning.

Police say the 57-year-old accused fled the house after the fire but was later arrested.

David Alan Harding represented himself in the Narromine Local Court today because a Legal Aid solicitor was not available.

Harding applied for bail, telling Magistrate Howard Hamilton he would like to get some clothes and rest because he had been up all night.

The application was refused and Harding is now due to appear in the Dubbo Local Court next Wednesday.