Cairns Stabbing 8 Children killed
Police attend the scene of a multiple stabbing in the Cairns suburb of Manoora Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

Australian police have confirmed that a woman found with serious stab wounds inside a home in Queensland is the mother of at least seven of eight children found dead at the same address.

Police were called at the premises in the Cairns suburb of Manoora after receiving a report of a person with serious injuries.

They found a 34-year-old woman suffering from stab injuries to the chest and the bodies of eight children whose ages ranged from 18 months to 15 years.

The identity of the victims has not been disclosed yet, but detective inspector Bruno Asnicar told local media that police believe the woman was the mother of most of the children.

She was in a stable condition at a local hospital and is assisting police with the investigation. Asnicar declined to comment on whether the woman was a suspect in the case.

"Anybody who has been involved is a person of interest," he said, The Australian newspaper reported.

Investigators said they were taking to a 20-year-old man who visited the crime scene.

A woman believed to be a cousin to the injured mother said the man was a brother to the deceased children.

Lisa Thaiday said it was the 20-year-old man who found the bodies after he came to visit his family.

"I'm going to see him now, he needs comforting," Thaiday said. "We're a big family ... I just can't believe it. We just found out (about) those poor babies."

Police would not immediately confirm the man's identity. The street has been cordoned off with dozens of police vehicles at the scene.

"These events are extremely distressing for everyone of course and police officers aren't immune from that — we're human beings as well," Ascinar said.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott described the incident as "heart-breaking".

He tweeted: