‘We deal with it the best we can’: Brisbane cold case remains open

Two decades have passed since Englishman Steven Goldsmith withdrew cash from an ATM near his inner-Brisbane unit in New Farm. He has not been seen since.

His mother, Lesley Goldsmith, still holds out hope that one day she will get answers.

Steven Goldsmith with his parents David and Lesley Goldsmith, who live in Britain.Credit: Australian Missing Person Register

“Living with no answers is obviously very, very difficult but over almost 21 years, with enormous support from close family and friends, life has to go on and we deal with it as best we can,” Mr Goldsmith’s mother said from her home in Britain.

“Sadly, we feel we might never find closure, but we never give up hope.”

Mr Goldsmith was an arborist subcontracted to Toowoomba City Council and other tree-lopping operators and would return to Brisbane on weekends.

Lesley Goldsmith believes someone knows what happened to her son.

He was last seen by a friend in Toowoomba on July 6, 2000, and was captured on CCTV withdrawing cash at Merthyr Village Shopping Centre on July 10.

Mr Goldsmith’s car was still in the garage and no personal items were missing from his Sydney Street unit, with a load of washing still in the dryer.

In 2007, a coroner determined Mr Goldsmith had died. Police suspected foul play.

Mr Goldsmith, who had experimented with drugs, spent time in the Fortitude Valley and New Farm areas and was known to frequent bars, clubs and boarding houses, police said.

Almost 21 years later, police have offered a $250,000 reward for information about his disappearance.

A reward is now out to help solve Steven Goldsmith’s disappearance.

“Unfortunately, we have no idea as to what has happened to Steven … Someone out there must have been involved in his disappearance and must know something about what happened,” his mother said.

Ms Goldsmith last saw her son in 1999, when he returned to Britain for a visit.

“He was quite happy at that time and pleased to catch up with former friends,” she said.

“We enjoyed meals out with him and old friends and were particularly thankful that photos were taken of him and us with him at that time.”

Ms Goldsmith said “all seemed fine” the last time Steven called home was on June 27, 2000, and spoke with his father.

“He’d previously called on June 23, leaving a voicemail, and prior to that on the sixth of June, when he told us about the apartment he was moving to in New Farm,” she said.

The police investigation went cold but an ounce of hope emerged when an anonymous caller contacted investigators four times, with the last call in 2006.

A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said people came forward following the fresh reward offer.

“Investigators are appreciative of the information provided from members of the public as a result of our appeal for assistance earlier this month, but do believe there are further people out there who have crucial information that could assist police in progressing this investigation,” she said.

Long-time friend Chris Bond lived with Mr Goldsmith in NSW in 1996.

“I was actually in France when he went missing and his parents called and asked if I had heard from him,” he said.

“We were arranging to go on a fishing and camping trip, which obviously never happened.”

Mr Bond described his friend as a thrill-seeker who was independent and one of the kindest people he had known.

“He was the first to leave home, get a proper job and did everything on his own,” he said.

British man Chris Bond, who resides in NSW, first believed his friend went on a solo camping trip.

“He was good at going off camping on his own for a couple of days.

“That’s why none of us really worried about it at first because we just thought he’s gone walkabout.”

Mr Bond said not a day went by when he did not think of his friend, even sharing old stories with his 11-year-old son.

“Goldie and I were actually driving at the time to go to Port Arthur [in 1996],” he said.

Mr Bond with Mr Goldsmith.

“Our ferry was due to arrive as the gun went off during the massacre [the mass shooting at Port Arthur in April 1996 in which 35 people were killed].

“Fortunately we got stopped by police for speeding and we couldn’t afford to go any more so without telling anyone, we turned around to head home.

“We’d sleep on the side of the roads but didn’t tell anyone so by the time we got back, everyone was furious because they thought the worst.

“My parents still haven’t forgiven me for it.”

Mr Bond said Mr Goldsmith’s friends never stopped trying to find answers, calling people and writing to media outlets.

“We were never contacted by police at the original stage. You’d think his close friends would be the first ones to call,” he said.

“But now the effort is incredible. I was interviewed recently and detectives are flying to Sydney for a second interview with me.

“I just hope, especially for the sake of his parents who are getting older, that we can all get answers.”

People with information about this cold case can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.