Police return to Duckhole Lake Track in renewed investigation into Bruce Fairfax disappearance

A second day of searching for vanished Launceston teacher Bruce Fairfax, who disappeared while walking the Duckhole Lake track on October 14, 2017, has come to an end. Latest update from police.

A second day of searching for vanished Launceston teacher Bruce Fairfax, who disappeared while walking the Duckhole Lake track on October 14, 2017, has turned up no clues.

Kingston CIB recently announced Mr Fairfax’s disappearance was now being investigated as a criminal matter.

Tasmania Police Detective Acting Inspector Michael Foster said investigators were putting a “criminal investigation lens” over the case to make sure they “haven’t missed anything”.

On Thursday, police launched a two-day search of the Duckhole Lake area in a bid to ferret out clues that may have been missed.

On Friday, a police spokeswoman confirmed the search had not borne fruit.

“Nothing relevant to the investigation has been found at this stage,” she said.

The new search involved approximately 90 people, including police search and rescue crews, SES volunteers, and members of various walking clubs.

When he disappeared, Mr Fairfax, 66, was walking with his wife and their dog at the track when they became separated. He was never seen again.

At the time, an extensive search was launched, but police eventually conceded he could not have survived the conditions due to his Parkinson’s disease, and the length of time he’d been gone.

Police return to track in search for missing ex-teacher

November 9: Police and rescue personnel will for the next two days search the Duckhole Lake track in the renewed search for missing retired teacher Bruce Fairfax – which is now being investigated as a criminal matter.

Kingston CIB last week announced Mr Fairfax’s disappearance was now being investigated as a criminal matter, six years after he first went missing on October 14, 2017.

Tasmania Police searching for Bruce Fairfax at Duckhole Lake on November 9, 2023. Image: Tasmania Police

On that day, Mr Fairfax, a Launceston husband and father, was walking with his wife and their dog at Duckhole Lake Track when they became separated.

The pair were never reunited.

At the time, an extensive search was launched for the 66-year-old, but police said he could not have survived the conditions due to his Parkinson’s disease, and the length of time he’d been gone.

Missing Launceston man Bruce Fairfax who disappeared at Duckhole Lake track, south of Dover in 2017. This photo was taken of him shortly before he disappeared. Picture: Twitter

Tasmania Police on Thursday and Friday will be searching the Duckhole Lake Track area at Strathblane in Southern Tasmania as part of the renewed investigation.

Police asked anyone with information into Mr Fairfax’s disappearance to come forward with information, and that people could do so anonymously.

To contact police, call 131 444 for the Kingston CIB, or go to crimestopperstas.com.au for Crime Stoppers.

In announcing the matter would now be investigated as a criminal matter last week, Tasmania Police Detective Acting Inspector Michael Foster said they were putting a “criminal investigation lens” over the case to make sure they “haven’t missed anything”.

Tasmania Police will for the next two days search for Bruce Fairfax at Duckhole Lake. Image: Tasmania Police

Speaking to media last week, Inspector Foster confirmed that despite the fresh lens, there was no new information in the case, nor were there any suspects.

“We’ll be seeking to speak with witnesses and any other persons who might know something,” he said.

“At this stage we’re not ruling anything in or anything out until all the information comes forward.”

Originally published as Police return to Duckhole Lake Track in renewed investigation into Bruce Fairfax disappearance