Candles and prayers at vigil for woman whose body was found in Sydney park

A small group of people including local police and councillors came together for a vigil to remember slain Sydney woman Nicole Cartwright.

Nicole Cartwright was captured on CCTV before she vanished. Source: AAP

The park where a Sydney woman's body was found bound and beaten has brought together the community in a vigil to remember the 32-year-old.

A small group of about 40 people, including local police and councillors, lit candles and reflected in prayer at Buffalo Creek Reserve in Hunters Hill on Thursday night to console one another and pay their respects.

Nicole Cartwright's remains were found in the same reserve more than a week ago by a council worker who was mowing the lawn.

Police don't know how the 32-year-old died but say she suffered injuries "consistent with assault" and was bound.

Inspector Anthony Boyd, who attended the vigil, said police inquiries were "improving rapidly" and the investigation was progressing "very quickly".

More than 30 people attended a memorial service for Nicole Cartwright on Thursday. Source: Twitter/Steve Deare

"We are confident we can get to a result and find those responsible for this but that, unfortunately, will take time," Insp Boyd said on Thursday.

He assured residents there was no specific threat to them but said the crime would remain a "scar" on the community.

North Ryde resident Jo Taranto said she wasn't shocked it happened in her neighbourhood but was instead angry at the number of women affected by violence.

"The act of doing something so atrocious here makes me very angry," she told AAP at the vigil.

"It's such a visible act of violence.

Sydney woman Nicole Cartwrightwas found dead at Buffalo Creek Reserve in Sydney on Wednesday, October 3, 2018. Source: AAP

"Women need to speak up and shouldn't be scared of this."

Officers on Wednesday released CCTV footage of the last time Ms Cartwright was seen, at Museum Railway Station at 9.30pm on September 30.

Her remains were found three days later in the same clothes.

Detective Superintendent Scott Cook says once homicide investigations go beyond a few days, they become more "baffling".

Sydney woman Nicole Cartwright who was found dead at Buffalo Creek Reserve in Sydney. Source: Supplied

Police want to hear from anyone who may have seen Ms Cartwright travelling on the trains, who has dashcam footage of Pittwater Road or who was a friend of hers.

Ms Cartwright lived with her parents at Lansvale in Sydney's southwest and had a wide circle of friends.

Det Supt Cook says her family is "devastated" by the loss.