The woman, then aged in her 30s, was returning from a university lecture on June 24, 1985, when she stopped at the milk bar on Colby Drive at Belgrave Heights in Melbourne's outer southeast.
When she returned to her unlocked car, a man armed with a knife appeared from the back seat, threatened her and directed her to drive.
She drove for about one to two kilometres, before the man ordered her to pull into a secluded bush area on Courtney's Road in Belgrave South.
Police allege he forced her out of the car and raped her while obscuring the victim's vision, placing items over her head and face in a bid to conceal his identity.
She was left tied up and partially clothed in the rain as the man fled in the vehicle, where it was abandoned about 100 metres from where she was allegedly abducted.
The victim ran several hundred metres to the nearest house where she sought refuge and emergency services were called.
At the time, the offender was described as in his 20s, about 183cms tall, with short hair, a deep voice and wearing a dark military-type overcoat.
On Thursday afternoon, a 65-year-old Bendigo man was taken into custody and later charged with abduction, common law assault, attempted aggravated rape, two counts of aggravated indecent assault, aggravated rape, common law assault, theft and theft of motor vehicle.
He is expected to appear at Bendigo Magistrates Court on Friday.
The cold case was reviewed by Sexual Crimes Squad detectives in 2023.
A photo of what the milk bar looked like in 1985 has been released as police seek to identify people inside at the time of the alleged offences.
Police also acknowledged other people may not have come forward after possibly being assaulted in similar circumstances.
"If you were the victim of a similar incident in the area and around that time period, please - come forward and speak to police," Detective Acting Inspector Glyn Woolley said.
"It is never too late."
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
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