A man charged with the murders of two people whose bodies were found at a remote property in western NSW on Friday was in a relationship with one of the victims, police said.
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Allan Geoffrey O'Connor, 61, handed himself in to police at Nyngan about noon on Sunday, police said, and was later charged with the murders of Jacob Cumberland, 28, and a 36-year-old woman, whose name has not been released. Both of them had suffered fatal gunshot wounds.
A third body, believed to be of Stephen Cumberland, Jacob's father, was found inside a nearby burnt-out caravan on the property in Laroo Road, Hermidale, 70 kilometres west of Nyngan.
Police confirmed they found the bodies of woman and Stephen Cumberland after a member of the public found Jacob Cumberland dead in the property's driveway and phoned triple zero.
Acting Superintendent Andrew Hurst said Mr O'Connor knew the victims and had been romantically linked to the woman, whose body was found close to the fire-ravaged caravan.
"I can't speculate on the motive but I can say that investigators believe the 61-year-old-man and the 36-year-old-woman were previously involved in a domestic relationship," he told ABC TV on Monday.
Mr O'Connor did not apply for bail at Dubbo Local Court on Monday and it was formally refused by magistrate Philip Stewart.
Over the weekend, friends of Jacob Cumberland shared their grief on social media.
"Lost my mate today. What a tragedy, I don't know who could hurt such a great human being. Rest in peace son. Jakey you will be forever missed," Craig Grimmon wrote on Facebook.
"Jake had a huge heart, we all love him, we will miss the smiles you put on our children's faces and the happiness you bought to our campsite over the many years, you'll be missed from young to old. Rest In Peace Jake," Vic Nalbandian wrote.
The father and son were known to police after their property was raided and police seized a number of firearms and explosives last year.
The pair were charged with a range of firearms offences as well as drug possession and appeared before Nyngan Local Court on Wednesday.
Both men were on bail and were due to appear in court again in August.
Hermidale has a population of just over 130, including those employed in a copper mine in the area, residents said.
The area is a big farming community known for wool and cattle and its pub, the Hermidale Hotel.
