SYDNEY, July 4 (Xinhua) -- A man has been shot dead by police officers during a siege that lasted for several hours at a property northwest of Melbourne.

Police in the Australian state of Victoria said in a statement on Friday that officers were called to a report of gunshots being fired at a home in the small town of Daisy Hill, 135 km northwest of Melbourne, at about 3 p.m. on Thursday.

No one was injured in the initial shooting and police attended the scene and attempted to engage with an armed man before there was a siege for several hours, to which the critical incident response team, special operations group and dog squad were deployed.

Shortly before 10 p.m., the man fired shots toward police who returned fire, striking the man. He died at the scene. No further injuries were reported.

The incident will be investigated by homicide detectives with oversight from Victoria Police's Professional Standards Command. ■