Australia AUSTRALIA - 4YO AUGUST (GUS) Missing from rural family home in Outback, Yunta, South Australia, 27th Sept 2025

[Lucy.D]

I'd just really like to see the grandparents continue to open the farm up to visitors and a fresh set of eyes and thoughts might just come up with something that will bring a closure to this tragedy.
I wouldn't be wandering around at night any longer on the property but a good thorough search, even if it's over the same ground and inspecting the same structures, may come up with something.
Although, before multiple car tyres came along and probably covered everything over, I'd have liked to have seen if there were any footprints of Gus's on the dirt tracks heading out to the road.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

I'd just really like to see the grandparents continue to open the farm up to visitors and a fresh set of eyes and thoughts might just come up with something that will bring a closure to this tragedy.

Depending on the direction of the police investigation, LE may not want more people tramping across what may be turning into a crime scene.

 

[BreakingNews]

Oak Park Station belonged to Shannon's family. There is a little bit of history about for that property if you know where to look.

Josh is an outback boy as well and also lives on a property at Belalia North.

Gus’ father Joshua Lamont lives at a property about 100km away in Belalia North.

‘Still looking’: Missing 4yo Gus’ shattered family speak out

The family of August ‘Gus’ Lamont has spoken publicly for the first time since police called off a massive search for the missing four-year-old.

thenightly.com.au

Ms Thomas, who had grown up at Parnaroo Station nearby the Lamonts

Redirect Notice

I'm really not sure what different dangers there would be compared to Jess's and Josh's property. As most outback properties within that area are the same. Given they mentioned clashes specifically with Josie, maybe Josh thought that was a danger psychologically wise to his children. Unfortunately not all people have the same views towards LGBTQ. JMO

The Daily Mail has been told that Josh and Jess remain a couple but he does not live on the station because of clashes with Josie.

'Josh doesn't think it's safe for the kids to be out there, it's dangerous,' a family friend revealed

 

[Itz_CrimsonYT]

Here's a thought...
What if he thought to play hide and seek with the family without them knowing, and basically running away and hiding from anyone they see. There is plenty of stuff to hide in/around in the area.

It's similar to getting lost in a mall, there are plenty of places to hide and run around, like in clothing hangers, changing rooms, restaurants, bathrooms, etc.

If we suppose that Gus is on the property and alive, he might be constantly moving about the area. So police could've checked an area that Gus was at 5 minutes prior.

The only issue is he would eventually get hungry or thirsty if he's been in the area for so long...

I don't think that foul play is off the table as of now. It certainly is possible. But there are so many loose ends that it feels nearly impossible to get a clear answer.

 

[ameliak]

Wow.

So he probably had no friends and had no contact at all with other children. What would the plan have been for when he reached school age? I know many Australian kids from very rural backgrounds attend state boarding schools, but from what age?

@Thoughtful123 and @MelmothTheLost I'm replying to you both, in case no-one else has. I took the statement as meaning he's never left the property on his own.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

If he ran out into the desert and became "lost," and unfortunately perished, what is the likelihood his body would have become completely covered in bushes or sand, not visible to drones, etc.?

Does anyone have a sense of very unlikely, possible, or actually quite likely? Just how fast does the terrain change that significantly?

I don't see this being some kind of family cover-up. JMO.

 

[Marg944]

Pretty sure the dogs are kelpies…..

Missing boy Gus' grandparents break their silence: 'Clashes'

The little boy vanished almost two weeks ago after playing in the yard of remote Oak Park homestead in the harsh South Australian outback, 300km north of Adelaide.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Roroho]

Sorry, but why is it so important the dog’s breed? Seems to be a reoccurring topic here.

They’re likely working dogs, yes, and often they are kept in kennels, but not always. Often dogs bark, but not always, especially if they were familiar with workers coming and going. Unfortunately, I don’t think digging into the dogs further will help provide clarity. Just my opinion!

 

[tedtink]

Sorry, but why is it so important the dog’s breed? Seems to be a reoccurring topic here.

They’re likely working dogs, yes, and often they are kept in kennels, but not always. Often dogs bark, but not always, especially if they were familiar with workers coming and going. Unfortunately, I don’t think digging into the dogs further will help provide clarity. Just my opinion!

Because they’re not retrievers.

 

[essareem]

Gus's 'furious' dad is seen for the first time after son disappeared

The little boy vanished almost two weeks ago after playing in the yard of remote Oak Park homestead in the harsh South Australian outback, 300km north of Adelaide .

www.dailymail.co.uk

The father of missing four-year-old August 'Gus' Lamont has been seen publicly for the first time since the toddler disappeared in the South Australian outback.
...
A source close to the devastated father said he is furious that his little boy went missing from Oak Park.

So sad.

 

[Tricia]

Locking thread for now. Needs a lot of clean up

 

[Sillybilly]

Thread is open again.

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Thank you.

 

[statt#1]

I've seen the report(s) of one footprint, yet the young lad is reported to have been playing in sand. It's hard for me to fathom there's no other evidence of his traipsing about the property, to the point where he was last seen playing, or away from it.

On another note.....It could possibly be that Gus is rather close by.....

The case of Harley Dilly comes to mind, a tragic case where the young boy was eventually found in a chimney. No odor was present in the home when it was previously searched, in fact, it appears a searcher actually picked up his jacket and hung it on the door, a jacket Harley had pushed through the stove pipe opening. So, the searcher was simply on the other side of the wall, and still didn't know Harley was in the chimney.

BCI releases photos, final report on the recovery of Harley Dilly

Investigators say the 14-year-old Port Clinton boy was found standing on the floor of the chimney on the second floor of the home.

www.wtol.com

 

[katydid23]

Sorry, but why is it so important the dog’s breed? Seems to be a reoccurring topic here.

They’re likely working dogs, yes, and often they are kept in kennels, but not always. Often dogs bark, but not always, especially if they were familiar with workers coming and going. Unfortunately, I don’t think digging into the dogs further will help provide clarity. Just my opinion!

I am really interested in the family dogs because I am trying to figure out what was happening at 5 to 5:30 pm, while Gus was outside playing.

My daughter has two Aus cattle dogs, which I take care of on many weekends. When my granddaughter is in the yard, the 2 dogs are always at her side when possible. If she began to wander off, I am convinced they would follow her or come get me and begin barking and trying to notify me that she took off.

That's why I was wondering about the dogs. <modsnip> I am curious about where the dogs were because 'herding type' working dogs usually herd children as well, as they take on the responsibility themselves. IMO

 

[su5ie]

I am really interested in the family dogs because I am trying to figure out what was happening at 5 to 5:30 pm, while Gus was outside playing.

My daughter has two Aus cattle dogs, which I take care of on many weekends. When my granddaughter is in the yard, the 2 dogs are always at her side when possible. If she began to wander off, I am convinced they would follow her or come get me and begin barking and trying to notify me that she took off.

That's why I was wondering about the dogs. Was grandpa out with the sheep and the dogs were with him? Or was grandpa at home, inside the house? I am curious about where the dogs were because 'herding type' working dogs usually herd children as well, as they take on the responsibility themselves. IMO

I also wondered if the reason they assumed gus wandered outward was because there was sandy footprints leading out from sand pile towards the land rather than toward the home

 

[essareem]

I've been popping in and out of the thread so I might have missed something, but in my opinion the road 300 metres from their house must be a public road. Otherwise the media wouldn't have been able to just sit there filming / photographing - with the family being so private, I can imagine they would have never allowed it.

As for the mention of 6 (or 5?) gates along the road to the house, you can encounter cattle grids or unlocked stock proof gates on council roads. I can think of several roads around me that pass through pastoral grazing properties, where the livestock roam wherever they want, including on the road, but are contained to the property by grids and gates.

I would imagine many city people would have seen these on camping / 4x4 trips.

MOO.

 

[butterstick]

The case of Harley Dilly comes to mind, a tragic case where the young boy was eventually found in a chimney. No odor was present in the home when it was previously searched, in fact, it appears a searcher actually picked up his jacket and hung it on the door, a jacket Harley had pushed through the stove pipe opening. So, the searcher was simply on the other side of the wall, and still didn't know Harley was in the chimney.

Whoa Harley's case is odd.

In that case though cadaver dogs were only used outside the house, and the poor kid was trapped in a chimney inside the house... I'm no expert, but the dogs had some distance and barriers between them and him? I'm sure they'd still of had some chance, but maybe just lucked out on that occasion - coal and soot can conceal/absorb odour.

And in the Daniel O’Keeffe case cadaver dogs probably weren't used at all.

Which leads me back to a question - long term disappearances that are discovered in close-by locations are usually well concealed and cadaver dogs aren't used or are not given proper use ---- so what odds are there of Gus being concealed on the property given (/assuming) cadaver dogs have had full access and proper use?

 

[Absoluterubbish]

Whoa Harley's case is odd.

In that case though cadaver dogs were only used outside the house, and the poor kid was trapped in a chimney inside the house... I'm no expert, but the dogs had some distance and barriers between them and him? I'm sure they'd still of had some chance, but maybe just lucked out on that occasion.

And in the Daniel O’Keeffe case cadaver dogs probably weren't used at all.

Which leads me back to a question - long term disappearances that are discovered in close-by locations are usually well concealed and cadaver dogs aren't used or are not given proper use ---- so what odds are there of Gus being concealed on the property given (/assuming) cadaver dogs have had full access and proper use?

Have we had confirmation that they used cadaver dogs or just tracking dogs?

 

[spiritualdreaming]

Have we had confirmation that they used cadaver dogs or just tracking dogs?

New South Wales and Queensland are the only states in Australia that have cadaver dog's. IMO they wouldn't have been called in at this stage.

A highly specialised policing area, New South Wales is one of only two states in Australia with a cadaver detection dog capability — the other being Queensland.

'A privilege being able to assist': Cadaver dogs are some of Australia's most specialised canines. How are they trained?

For those tasked with finding human bodies, the bond between specially trained cadaver dog and handler is vital — and the physical and mental exhaustion will likely be worth it, if it can bring closure to those grieving for a loved one.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Absoluterubbish]

New South Wales and Queensland are the only states in Australia that have cadaver dog's. IMO they wouldn't have been called in at this stage.

A highly specialised policing area, New South Wales is one of only two states in Australia with a cadaver detection dog capability — the other being Queensland.

'A privilege being able to assist': Cadaver dogs are some of Australia's most specialised canines. How are they trained?

For those tasked with finding human bodies, the bond between specially trained cadaver dog and handler is vital — and the physical and mental exhaustion will likely be worth it, if it can bring closure to those grieving for a loved one.

www.abc.net.au

Yes, that's what I was thinking. Likely only tracking dogs to have been used so far.