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

[hoodunnit]

Ok, I'm just pointing out that the sandpile we first thought he had been playing in was not where he was playing. There's a different pile nearby as seen in these pics that is the one he was playing in, if we have it right. And it happens to be red looking. I think it's pretty important to get it correct where he was said to be last seen. And we still may not have it right!

In one of the drone footage clips (I'll post when I find it!) there was ANOTHER pile of red dirt visible at the back near one of the sheds - not near the home/s so it could have been any of them.

Edited to add link

49 second mark. Very bottom right-hand side, behind the shed is a pile of red dirt. This isn't the best imagery; I have seen clearer somewhere on this thread, however I can't find it at the moment.
Basically, little Gus could have been playing in one of multiple piles of dirt.

 

[Bats]

How long would an average four year old be content to play in a pile of dirt with just a spade?
It doesnt sound terribly interesting.

Yes, you'd surely think some other toys would be involved wouldn't you. Just playing with a toy spade?

Personally, I'd say that would provide a 4 year old about 5 minutes attention before they'd look for something else....

Perhaps the Police haven't elaborated on those details ...

 

[Lady-J]

Seems alot are being gifted, I was too

And me too

 

[Lady-J]

looks red to me

View attachment 623569

this is from a post by @Marg944 from Oct 14, 2025 earlier in this thread. There was a discussion about which pile Gus had actually been playing in. Earliest posts may have been looking at the wrong pile, the one that is sandy-colored, not red, and right by the trampoline. Later reports specified he was playing in the pile of RED dirt, which is outside a different structure than where the sandpile is.

It scares me to think anyone would leave a little child playing there alone

 

[BreakingNews]

looks red to me

View attachment 623569

this is from a post by @Marg944 from Oct 14, 2025 earlier in this thread. There was a discussion about which pile Gus had actually been playing in. Earliest posts may have been looking at the wrong pile, the one that is sandy-colored, not red, and right by the trampoline. Later reports specified he was playing in the pile of RED dirt, which is outside a different structure than where the sandpile is.

Police from day one said Gus was playing in the sand and this is not the photo which was shown. Previously linked. Over time the wording and photo has changed. MOO.

 

[Sillybilly]

Hey everyone,

Post have been removed. Statement analysis is not allowed unless it is by a forensic expert. Peter Hyatt is not an approved source.

 

[KBlackRabbit]

How long would an average four year old be content to play in a pile of dirt with just a spade?
It doesnt sound terribly interesting.

Depends on the kid, but a box of sand and a spade can provide hours of entertainment digging, shaping, and building sand castles. Little kids can have big imaginations.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

How long would an average four year old be content to play in a pile of dirt with just a spade?

As long as he had to if he had no-one and nothing else to play with.

 

[SouthAussie]

Has anyone ever seen it reported what time Jess and Josie returned to the homestead that day, and if they saw Gus when they got back? Or maybe they were summoned back to the home when Shannon realized she didn't know where he was?

We haven't heard. But apparently a family friend thought Gus may have gone to look for his mum (maybe to greet her on her way back for dinner at the end of the work day? imo) so it sounds as if Jess and Josie weren't back yet at 5:30pm.


A close friend of Shannon's suggested Gus could have simply wandered off to look for his mother.
'It is very easy to get lost on a station that size,' said the friend.

'Shannon grew up out there and she almost got lost a few years ago.
'Her and Josie were out on motorbikes sorting out the sheep one afternoon and they got separated for a while. She had to turn off her bike to listen out for Josie's to find her way back.

Bombshell update in the hunt for missing toddler Gus Lamont

The search for missing four-year-old Gus Lamont who vanished from his family's home five weeks ago is set to resume, cops say.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[nao]

Moo..I would think he was playing in patch by the trees. The trees would give sun protection. He may also of been playing in the sandy dirt on the other side of pile, in the tree area closer to house.

 

[twomoresmores]

I can't imagine the the police haven't searched every pile of sand/dirt/gravel. Surely the starting point is the last known location and you work out from there (unless Intel or other specific information suggests otherwise)? This would take in house, barns, outbuildings, etc before the surrounding land. I'd like to think we can assume that the sand piles plus buildings have already been searched numerous times. And of course, probably searched repeatedly by the family members.
MOO.

 

[Ellery84]

It scares me to think anyone would leave a little child playing there alone

Me too, @Lady-J .

 

[Ellery84]

'Shannon grew up out there and she almost got lost a few years ago.
'Her and Josie were out on motorbikes sorting out the sheep one afternoon and they got separated for a while. She had to turn off her bike to listen out for Josie's to find her way back.

That may have occurred, but Gus wasn’t on a motorbike, he was on foot. How far could he have gone on foot, alone, from the homestead?

And if Shannon knew it was easy to get lost at Oak Park, she would be acutely aware of not allowing Gus to be alone for so long that he could get lost.

IMO

I just can’t see a responsible, caring grandma like Shannon leaving Gus alone outside at Oak Park 5 - 5:30pm.

I can’t see it.

IMO

 

[statt#1]

I think he's up. I don't know, it's just a hunch, but I think Gus went up. Up a tree, or up on a roof.....possibly to follow a varmint, or retrieve a pet cat, or maybe even to get a birds eye view of the landscape to see if mom was coming home yet.

 

[Ellery84]

I think he's up. I don't know, it's just a hunch, but I think Gus went up. Up a tree, or up on a roof.....possibly to follow a varmint, or retrieve a pet cat, or maybe even to get a birds eye view of the landscape to see if mom was coming home yet.

I mean he might be “up.”

I would like to think he’s with a beautiful, loving family who could never have a child and they’re taking care of him….. but yeah, he might be, as you said, up.

I feel like with all of the aerial and drone technology, the police would know if he was on a roof or something. IMO

 

[jepop]

This is maybe a stupid theory, but I can only think of one way a kid could walk straight for any reasonable period of time - if they are trying to find where the sun is going to hide and walking towards it.

Even as an adult, I have indeed tried to chase the location where rainbows are coming out of. Unsuccessful so far but I haven't lost hope

It's an idea that crossed my mind. The short musical film "One Night the Moon," is about a little girl who gets lost on a station when she follows the moon one night. It's historical fiction, starring singer/song writer Paul Kelly, his wife Karin Fairfax and their young daughter.

It's really beautifully made with amazing cinematography of the outback on location ( not sure where exactly).

One Night the Moon - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

ETA, refreshed my memory with the link; parts of it were filmed in SA in the Flinders Ranges.

 

[Warshawski]

This is from the same post by @Marg944 from Oct 14 earlier in this thread. I believe it shows both the red pile of dirt and the sand pile. And more than one report stated he was playing in the pile of red dirt. The post by @Marg944 on Oct 14 includes a video, and the poster said that the red dirt is pointed out at :50 in the video.

View attachment 623572

Seriously ?

Do we actually have any actual Police report that says where he was playing ? and especially which pile of dirt, because imo that Red dirt pile looks to be quite hidden from any view from the house

 

[Ellery84]

Seriously ?

Do we actually have any actual Police report that says where he was playing ? and especially which pile of dirt, because imo that Red dirt pile looks to be quite hidden from any view from the house

No. We (the public) have next to nothing.

IMO

 

[jepop]

These both say mound of dirt

What we know about search for missing boy on sheep station

Authorities are searching for a missing four-year-old boy on a sheep grazing station in the mid-north of South Australia. Here's what we know about the search so far.

www.abc.net.au

Police expand search for missing boy Gus in outback SA after advice from ‘survival specialists’

South Australian commissioner says police leaving ‘no stone unturned’ in effort to recover body of four-year-old who went missing in late September

www.theguardian.com

Is now to love an Australian msm? They said red pile of dirt but I don’t know what they are

I think the women's weekly article is simply taking it's cue from the DM article which mentions red pile. I searched hard ( though quickly) and could find no other reports that specify red pile. Most reports actually use the term mound of dirt, with the ABC also in early reports using sand. Those with more details say he was playing Infront of the homestead.

My take is that the Police updates in late Sept/early Oct used the term mound of dirt. I'd guess that in interviews and whatnot, police also used the term sand interchangeably and I think, Imo, this is probably the way it was phrased by SM.

The police obviously know the relevant locations and would have integrated it into their searches.

But fwiw, I don't believe the red dirt pile ever came from the police and no other reports as far as I can tell mention it independent of the DM. Jmo

 

[kurtneverdied]

Does it really matter what pile of dirt? Why is everyone so interested.?
Of course searchers have gone all over this place. Police have also had over a month to go over anything in and around the homestead. You have to back then in that they checked everything square CM.

What interests me most from that photo is perhaps the smaller building close to the red pile is where Shannon was looking after the kids. Makes sense as you don't want a 4yo out of sight. She would have been comfortable knowing she could just walk to the window or door to check on him.
Probably my biggest take from it is getting a good look at the road. The building is perhaps obscured from road visibility and perhaps sound from the road too. Let's say she left the back door open for Gus and shut the front, because we all know what happens when it's a bit windy with door open on opposite ends!

Anyway just a bit of rambling thoughts.