The 77-year-old man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, is charged with wilfully murdering Sharon Fulton on March 18, 1986.
The 39-year-old mother of four was last seen waiting for a train in Perth on the same day she was allegedly killed by the man.
Her body has never been found despite an extensive investigation by West Australian police.
The man briefly appeared in Perth Magistrates Court via video link on Friday and was remanded in custody.
There was no application for bail and the matter was adjourned to November 22.
Detective Superintendent Darryl Cox told reporters Ms Fulton's children, who were aged four to 15 when their mother disappeared, had been shocked by the arrest.
"The impact of her disappearance on those children has been horrific," he said.
Det Supt Cox said the family was still processing the information but he hoped it had provided some answers.
"I personally spoke to one of Sharon's children this morning and although distressed he said that he was very confident in the justice system," he said.
Cold case detectives reviewed Ms Fulton's case in 2007 and 2017 and a coronial inquest was conducted in 2022, with the findings handed down earlier this year.
The WA government also offered a $1 million reward in May for information leading to a conviction in the case.
"So put all of those together and some very hard detective work and this is where we are today," Det Supt Cox said.
The investigation to find Ms Fulton's body remains ongoing but police are not actively searching.
28°C