A woman charged with murdering her partner with a pick axe confided separately to a friend and her father that she had buried his body in her backyard, a court has heard.

Angela Williams, 44, is alleged to have struck her partner of 23 years, Douglas Kally, with a pick axe 16 times to the head some time between July 10 and 31, 2008.

Police allege Ms Williams wrapped Mr Kally's body in a tarpaulin and buried it in a small grave behind the couple's home in Indented Head, on the Bellarine Peninsula, according to documents tendered to Melbourne Magistrates Court.

After his death, Ms Williams allegedly told the couple's two children and Mr Kally's family that he had left the family home and moved to the NSW town of Kiama, the documents show.

Mr Kally's family reported him missing in October 2008.