Warning to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The following article contains the name and image of a person who has died.

A nine-year-old Aboriginal boy has died from a significant head injury in Kirwan, Townsville at the weekend.

Police were called to a home on Charles Street around 7:10pm on Saturday 25 January, following concerns for the child's welfare.

Upon arrival, officers found Thai-li Ned deceased with a severe head injury.

Schynada Karkadoo, 24, who had been caring for the boy, was arrested at the scene.

Ms Karkadoo was charged with murder and appeared in the Townsville Magistrates Court on Monday, where a brief of evidence was ordered.

Shw was remanded in custody, with the case adjourned until 23 April.

Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Miles said initial investigations suggest the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, with police believing a wooden plank may have been used.

"Anything involving a traumatic injury and the death of a child in these circumstances is quite abhorrent," he said.

Police suspect the boy may have been dead for up to eight hours before they arrived.

The alarm was raised by a relative who contacted emergency services.

"There was nothing unusual when police first arrived at the address," Senior Sergeant Miles said.

"It was a normal suburban household.

"But once inside, police discovered a confronting scene."

It is understood the boy had been living with Ms Karkadoo and her three children in the months prior to his death as his mother, Tiarne Ned, is in custody.

Senior Seargent Miles confirmed that Ms Karkadoo had no significant prior contact with police.

"Police have attended the scene before for other reasons, but not for anything related to the child," he said.

Ms Karkadoo's three children were present at the time of the incident and have since been taken into care.

No other adults were at the property.

"We are continuing our investigations, and the house remains an active crime scene until the autopsy is completed," Senior Sergeant Miles said.

The police investigation will rely on results of the autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

The findings will also help clarify the suspected use of a weapon and the timeline of events leading up to Thai-li's passing.

Officers have spoken to neighbours and other individuals with knowledge of the situation to piece together what happened in the hours before the emergency call was made.

Police said the Department of Child Safety had been notified of the incident and would conduct a separate review.

The community has been left in shock following the boy's death with an outpour of messages on social media.

"He's with his ancestors now... Fly high little fulla," one person said.

"You (were) so polite and humble," another comment read.

Tributes for the boy have been placed in the front yard of the home, with flowers, toys, and handwritten notes left in his memory.

Following his death, Thai-li's family has spoken publicly about their grief.

His aunt, Chanell King, 20, said the family is struggling to comprehend the loss.

"She (Ms Ned) is not doing okay at the moment," Ms King said, Daily Mail reports.

"We're all trying to wrap our heads around what happened… why anyone would ever hurt him.

"He was bright, active and mostly funny."

Ms King said she was considering getting a tattoo in his memory.