A Sydney woman charged with murdering her mother almost 18 years ago will remain behind bars after failing to make bail.

A local court magistrate granted Isabela Carmelo-Gomez bail this afternoon, but police immediately lodged an application in the Supreme Court which means the 45-year-old will remain behind bars for the time being.

Carmelo-Gomez's mother Irene Jones' body was found on November 2, 2001 by police responding to reports of a break-and-enter at her Lansvale home.

Isabella Camello-Gomez has been charged with her mother's murder. (Supplied)

She had been strangled and stabbed in the neck.

Police allege her daughter, then 27, staged the robbery before going to a neighbour's property and raising the alarm.

She was arrested on Tuesday outside her Bondi Junction unit and charged with murder.

Waverley Local Court heard inconsistencies in what the now 45-year-old told the triple zero operator and ambulance staff who arrived on the scene would feature among evidence making up the prosecution's case.

Police found Irene Jones, 56, dead after being stabbed and strangled. (Supplied)

"(She said) she saw her mother lying there ... (then she said) she doesn't know if her mother's still in the house," Sergeant Tom Sands told the court.

He said prior to Ms Jone's death Carmelo-Gomez asked a man named Carlos "do you know anyone who could kill mum for me?"

Applying for bail, Carmelo-Gomez's lawyer Rebekah Rodger said her client was not an unacceptable risk of flight as she had known she was a suspect in her mother's murder for the past 18 years and hadn't run.

"It does not come as a huge shock to her to be charged with this matter," Ms Rodger told the court.

She also noted Carmelo-Gomez had two children, aged 12 and seven.

Sgt Sands described the prosecution case as a strong despite being circumstantial.

He said blood found on Carmelo-Gomez's shirt was inconsistent with the version of events she had provided, and alluded to comments she made at her mother's funeral that had aroused police suspicion.

Police found Mrs Jones dead from stab wounds and strangulation 18 years ago (Nine)

"The alleged offender she says was wearing gloves, yet she's got fingernail scratch marks," he added.

Wearing a black dress and coat, Carmelo-Gomez looked on intently in court and ran her hands through her hair.