Full List: Toowoomba’s Missing Person cases

From a tree surgeon who was last seen taking $3000 out of an ATM to an Indigenous woman who was thought to be travelling to Darwin, the Toowoomba district is still on the lookout for these missing residents.

More than 100 people go missing in Australia each day, with some never seen from again.

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said 53,000 people were reported missing in 2021.

“There are many reasons why people go missing and while thankfully most of those reported to us are located quickly, we never forget those whose whereabouts remains unknown and the devastating impact this has on family and friends,” Commissioner Carroll said.

“It is estimated that for every missing person reported to police, at least 12 people are affected.”

The Chronicle has taken a look at the missing persons from the Darling Downs district.

Traie Olsen

Toowoomba woman Traie Olsen has been missing since February 17, 2022.

50-year-old Traie Olsen has been missing from Toowoomba since mid-February 2022.

She was last seen at a Bridge Street, Newtown petrol station, around 1am on Thursday February 17 refuelling her silver 2004 Mazda hatchback with Queensland registration 456DC8.

CCTV footage from the service station showed her in a heated discussion with a man she had just been in a minor collision with.

The vehicle was later abandoned and wedged in a ditch on a 4WD track on Gittins Road, Withcott.

Police understand it was an area Ms Olsen did not have occasion to travel to.

Toowoomba Detective Acting Inspector Renee Garske said while police have not ruled anything out, the most likely scenario was Ms Olsen’s vehicle had become stuck and she’d attempted to walk to safety.

Ms Olsen is described as caucasian, 165cm tall, slight build with black hair and brown eyes.

Elisha Carrington

Toowoomba’s Missing Person Elisha Carrington was last seen in 1997. Picture: AFP

22-year-old Elisha Carrington was reportedly last seen by family and was reported missing on August 1, 1997.

Also known as Elisha, Allisha or Elly, Elisha is transgender and was originally known as Alan Ticehurst, but as a child was also called Burt.

Ms Carrington, of First Nations ethnicity, was last seen in the Laidley area and was believed to be possibly going to Darwin.

Ms Carrington was also known to frequent the Brisbane and Sunshine Coast areas.

It is understood Ms Carrington would frequently go for lengthy periods of time without contacting family, however would always attend important family events and has failed to do so.

She has been described as tanned, 180cm tall, slim build with brown hair and hazel eyes.

She has a small Egyptian Ankh tattoo on front of neck off to the right in black, red love heart tattoo with banner across front with script ‘Mum’ on bicep.

Barbara Troughton

Barbara Troughton

Barbara Troughton, 62, was last seen on 27 January, 2016 at her residence in Newtown.

Ms Troughton was running a small supermarket at the time of her disappearance was reportedly experiencing financial difficulties.

It is believed Ms Troughton left the residence on foot and has not made contact with family members since which is very much out of character.

“She left a note for her partner saying she was basically walking away and leaving everything behind, taking only $100 with her,” Queensland Police Missing Person’s Unit Detective Senior Sergeant Damien Powell told the Courier Mail in 2017.

“There has been nothing to indicate there was anything suspicious about her disappearance.”

Investigations into Ms Troughton’s whereabouts have failed to locate her and there are grave concerns for her welfare and safety.

She has been described as being 146cm tall with a proportional build, fair complexion, red hair and green eyes.

Tanya Buckland

Police have released a images of 36-year-old Tanya Buckland who was last seen on Palmerin Street in Warwick

Tanya Buckland, 36, was last seen in Warwick, Queensland in August 2013.

Queensland Police Missing Person’s Unit Detective Senior Sergeant Damien Powell told the Courier Mail in 2017 he believed Ms Buckland may still be alive, despite some of her possessions being found in the home of an accused triple murderer.

“She told her teenage daughter she was going away for a year and headed into New South Wales,” Sen-Sgt Powell said.

“She hasn’t made contact with friends or family since. We believe she is alive.”

Several property items of Ms Buckland was located in the home of Vincent O’Dempsey, who was accused of the 1974 murder of Barbara McCulkin and her daughters.

Ms Buckland posted a photo of herself following publicity about her disappearance, indicating she was in NSW, but she has made no further contact.

“It’s hard to say (why she left), but obviously all our ­inquiries have drawn a blank. There is no evidence of her (being alive) but she may well have the capabilities to use a different name or work for cash in hand,” Sen-Sgt Powell said in 2017.

“It’s just concerning that she hasn’t contacted her daughter.”

She has been described as 174cm tall with a slim build, fair complexion, light brown hair and hazel eyes.

Kerry Mackay

Kerry Lynette Mackay, last seen in Chinchilla on February 27, 2003. Photo Contributed

Kerry Mackay, 39, was last seen at the Wondai Road Caravan Park Chinchilla at 7.15am on February 27, 2003.

It is understood Ms Mackay attended Chinchilla showgrounds and collected her dog and four pet birds.

She was believed to be travelling through Dalby to Cunnamulla to visit her sister, however is believed to have taken a wrong road and gotten lost.

She was driving a white 1990 Toyota Corolla hatchback Queensland Registration 960FTH.

Police refocused their search to the Durikai State Forest, 27km west of Warwick, in 2007 after her car was discovered by a member of the public.

One of the car’s tyres had been punctured by a stick and the remains of her birds were in a cage on the back seat.

In 2020, police said a skull and bones were located in the forest near where the car was found.

However, it was still unclear if those bones belong to Ms Mackay.

Steven Goldsmith

Steven Goldsmith has been missing. Photo: AFP

Toowoomba council contractor Steven Goldsmith was reported missing on July 28, 2000 from New Farm.

He was last seen when he conducted a $3000 transaction captured on CCTV at the Commonwealth Bank ATM in New Farm.

At the time of his disappearance Steven was living in a unit on Sydney Street New Farm and was employed as a tree surgeon in Toowoomba.

Police located Goldsmith’s vehicle and work tools at his unit and his car keys, credit cards, passport and driver’s licence were found inside the home.

There was also a load of washing still in the dryer.

Police believe Mr Goldsmith, 28, was murdered around the time he disappeared.

A $250,000 reward is in place for information which leads to the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the disappearance of Steven Goldsmith.

Police would encourage anyone with new information on the above cases or any missing person to come forward. Information can be reported anonymously Crime Stoppers online or on 1800 333 000.