Australia Australia- Jane, 9, Arnna, 7, & Grant Jr., 4, Beaumont, 26 January 1966

[mrC]

inthe sighting of them near the bakers do not mention them o carrying food so i have to asume those sightings were of them before they entered the shop but there are nosighting after they left and there not far from the bus stop and its nearly time to go home so what ever happend couldent of happend that far from the shop or that long after they left the shop

 

[HarmonyE.]

inthe sighting of them near the bakers do not mention them o carrying food so i have to asume those sightings were of them before they entered the shop but there are nosighting after they left and there not far from the bus stop and its nearly time to go home so what ever happend couldent of happend that far from the shop or that long after they left the shop

I suspect - although it's just my suspicion - they got in a car very quickly after leaving the bakery. The man somehow came up with a pound note (maybe he magically found one when changing his clothes) and in celebration offered to buy food for the kids, their mum and himself and as it was quite a bit of food to carry on the bus, he'd run them home. Unfortunately, no one noticed them getting in his car.

We've heard how sensible and grown-up Jane was, and I have no reason to believe she wasn't. But after the initial panic of losing her money - in her mind, not a responsible thing to do - her relief in getting a ride home, and the bonus of lunch for mother who might not be pleased with her for missing the bus, may have caused her to lower her guard. Mature for her age or not, she was still only nine.

 

[mrC]

stranger danger wasnt really a thing in those days so i can see them acepting a lift from a stranger but they would certanly of acepted a lift from someone they knew even if they dident really know them all that well

 

[falkenberg3132]

And, as I wrote, it was January 1966 in pre-Don Dunstan era Adelaide and not post-Helen Reddy era NSW or VIC. As I point out, Jane (and Arnna) would have had a very different outlook and thinking than the little ladies that came later. No "only allowing school dresses for girls is sexist!" or starting a campaign against the portraits of Elizabeth II in every class room and the singing of God Save the Queen at assembly each day.

 

[mrC]

before he became a salesman jim was a driver for suburban taxis i cant help thinking that maybe the culprit was one of his ormer work collegues i mean nobody would think anything of some kids getting into a taxi an im sure they would o trusted somone who worked for the same company that there dad had

 

[falkenberg3132]

 

[mrC]

does anybody know where i could find a timeline for the events in this case it would by most helpfull

 

[falkenberg3132]

Disappearance of the Beaumont children - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[PeregrineFalcon]

Just learned about this case from someone I listen to on YouTube. Interesting and very sad this hasn't been solved.

 

[jjleroche]

In my opinion, the whole theory about the children being abducted from Glenelg is pure speculation. This theory appears to be based on reports from various people who had seen them with "the man". There has never been any proof at all of an abductioin having occurred.

I think it's important to bear in mind how many people would have been at the beach/Colley Reserve/anywhere else in Glenelg on that day. The weather was absolutely scorching - 104 degrees Fahrenheit/40 degrees Celsius. There would have been literally thousands of people there (in what is a quite small area). Kids would have been everywhere, running around with excitement. Whether the various "sightings" were definitely of the Beaumont children is questionable at best.

As far as I'm aware, the only person who definitely knew the three children, and sighted them on that day, was their postman. He stated that he saw the three children unaccompanied and quite close to their Somerton Park home. Initially he'd thought this was in the afternoon of the day in question, but later, on reflection, thought it could have been morning.
A Wenzel's bakery employee stated that she recognised Jane as being a previous customer when she served her. (For some context here, I lived in Glenelg for several years, and was a frequent customer of Wenzel's Bakery throughout that time. Wenzel's, a small (but iconic) shop, located one street back from the foreshore, was always busy, even on a slow winter's day.
I'm trying to imagine how busy Wenzel's would have been on that day. It was the middle of summer - the height of the tourist season, with the shop absolutely packed with customers. Thousands of people would have been swarming around the Jetty Road precinct, very keen to buy a cool drink, and grab a pie or pasty. Whether or not this employee definitely recognised Jane is by no means definite in my opinion. She would have been incredibly busy serving people, and calculating in her head how much change needed to be given, and then counting it out to customers. (No flash cash-registers in those days.) She would have barely had a moment to even look at customers. The customer who handed over the pound note may not have even been Jane. (Even if it were Jane, it's possible that she found the pound note. It would have been easy for anyone to drop some money by accident whilst trying to navigate the crowds.)

As far as I'm aware, there has been no proof whatsoever of the "abduction" of the Beaumont children. I think it is just as likely that there was an accident by misadventure, causing grave injury or death to one, with the other two dashing to assist, and also finding themselves in trouble. That could be a swimming accident, but I think it's more likely to be something to do with playing in or near drains which emptied into the Patawalonga Boat Haven. (Literally a stone's throw from Colley Reserve.) The drains would probably have been dry, but a sand collapse seems possible. Just my opinion.

 

[HarmonyE.]

Whilst I don't disagree that we can't necessarily take all of the "sightings" as gospel, we know the kids were going to the beach a short bus ride from home and that they weren't going to stay long. We have very specific descriptions from their mum detailing what they brought with them. Clothing, towels, bag, purse, book. The areas around the reserve and the beach were thoroughly searched and nothing meeting the description of any of those items ever turned up. I also think the odds of all three children dying unseen by some misadventure with no bodies ever turning up are very slim.

I think someone took them for sure. Whether they left on foot or in a vehicle, we cannot say with any certainty, because, as you note, it was a very busy day at the beach and whatever happened to them could have easily not been noticed and noted by anyone.

 

[mrC]

there were 3 kids that looked ery much like the beimont kids so much so that when the beimont kid swent missing the father was accused of being the kidnapper intill he quickly proved otherwise

it is possible that it was these kids seen at the beach that day.

 

[mrC]

the accident theory falls down on one thing janes bag if they were swiming or playing in a drain ane wouldn't of taken her bag in with her so if anything like that had happened the bag would of been found near wear it happened

 

[mrC]

am i right in thinking the postman was the only witness who actully knew the beumont kids if so hes edence should be gien the most credence

 

[HarmonyE.]

am i right in thinking the postman was the only witness who actully knew the beumont kids if so hes edence should be gien the most credence

At least one bakery employee was familiar with the kids (Jane in particular) as they apparently frequented Wenzel's and she later identified Jane as paying with a one pound note, which was not the norm for her.

 

[jjleroche]

am i right in thinking the postman was the only witness who actully knew the beumont kids if so hes edence should be gien the most credence

IMO that its correct. Below is an extract from my post of 13 December 2024:

As far as I'm aware, the only person who definitely knew the three children, and sighted them on that day, was their postman. He stated that he saw the three children unaccompanied and quite close to their Somerton Park home. Initially he'd thought this was in the afternoon of the day in question, but later, on reflection, thought it could have been morning.
A Wenzel's bakery employee stated that she recognised Jane as being a previous customer when she served her. (For some context here, I lived in Glenelg for several years, and was a frequent customer of Wenzel's Bakery throughout that time. Wenzel's, a small (but iconic) shop, located one street back from the foreshore, was always busy, even on a slow winter's day.
I'm trying to imagine how busy Wenzel's would have been on that day. It was the middle of summer - the height of the tourist season, with the shop absolutely packed with customers. Thousands of people would have been swarming around the Jetty Road precinct, very keen to buy a cool drink, and grab a pie or pasty. Whether or not this employee definitely recognised Jane is by no means definite in my opinion. She would have been incredibly busy serving people, and calculating in her head how much change needed to be given, and then counting it out to customers. (No flash cash-registers in those days.) She would have barely had a moment to even look at customers. The customer who handed over the pound note may not have even been Jane. (Even if it were Jane, it's possible that she found the pound note. It would have been easy for anyone to drop some money by accident whilst trying to navigate the crowds.)
JMO

 

[HarmonyE.]

Busy or not, IMO it's not a reason to dismiss the bakery employee's claim she was familiar with the kids and saw them there that day. She would have taken Jane's order, taken her money, handed change back, and given three little kids their large amount of food. That's a good amount of interaction and the employee was already familiar with the kids.

As you note, the postman's timing changed at least once or twice - by several hours. Is it possible neither of these sightings actually happened? Absolutely. But do I think it's likely they both saw the Beaumont kids that day? I do.

They were also seen on the short bus ride by someone who didn't know them but described the route, the kids and all their belongings - including Jane's book - to a T. So I think we can say they made it at least to the beach bus stop that morning even regardless of the other sightings.

 

[SouthAussie]

There was an article in The Advertiser yesterday ..... (paraphrased)

The children's cousin (father's niece) is calling for an inquest, due to ongoing suspicions about Harry Phipps. She believes his alleged involvement warrants a coronial inquest.

(As a reminder) Shortly after Phipps death in 2004, his son came forward and said the three children were at their house shortly before their disappearance. And in 2013 two men told police they had been instructed by Phipps to dig a big hole at his North Plympton factory, just days after the children's disappearance.

A new investigation series by Channel 7, called The Hunters, has uncovered information that points to the previous two digs being at the wrong site at the factory location.

Veteran police officer (Steve Van Aperen - behavioural expert who previously worked for the FBI) hopes this will encourage the police to do a third dig and eventually force an inquest.

https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/the-family-of-missing-beaumont-children-calls-for-coronial-inquest-as-part-of-sevens-new-true-crime-show-the-hunters/news-story/fed360d66473ac3dd676701a50ff60be?amp

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Mr Pangallo said the private dig would begin on February 22.
An upcoming dig for the Beaumont children will likely be the last chance to conduct another search for their remains at a former factory site before the land is sold off, the SA MP behind the idea says.

Beaumont children dig prompted by 'new information' about site linked to mystery

A former factory site linked to the 59-year-old the disappearance of the Beaumont children, which remains one of the nation's most baffling and tragic cold cases, will be searched a third time before being put up for sale, an SA MP says.

www.abc.net.au

 

[SouthAussie]

Mr Pangallo said the private dig would begin on February 22.
An upcoming dig for the Beaumont children will likely be the last chance to conduct another search for their remains at a former factory site before the land is sold off, the SA MP behind the idea says.

Beaumont children dig prompted by 'new information' about site linked to mystery

A former factory site linked to the 59-year-old the disappearance of the Beaumont children, which remains one of the nation's most baffling and tragic cold cases, will be searched a third time before being put up for sale, an SA MP says.

www.abc.net.au

It really is a big chunk of land to excavate. Especially as a metre or two of topsoil had been added, so they have to go really deep - as per your link.



Google streetview

There's not a doubt in my mind that the land will end up being a housing development - its proximity to both the beach and to the city is very good.
I really hope this next dig can properly rule in or rule out that site as the children's last resting place. Not expecting for there to be much left of their remains after all these years.