Search for woman, 78, homes in on Brisbane hiking spot

Nick Gibbs | March 31, 2023

A search and rescue operation is under way at Brisbane’s Mt Coot-tha after bushwalker Lesley Trotter went missing from her Toowong home.

The 78-year-old last spoke to her family at 11am on Monday and wasn’t at home when they visited the following day.

She left her mobile phone and wallet behind and there are serious concerns for her welfare.

Ms Trotter is an avid hiker and bushwalker and investigations have led police to Mt Coot-tha as an area of interest.

“We’re concerned … she’d left all her things behind and no one has heard from her,” Chief Inspector Corey Allen said on Friday. 

“She had some personal things happening this week regarding settlement of property and some other things that were happening so this is very out of character.”

Police have been unable to track any of Ms Trotter’s location, with no trace of the missing woman found on CCTV cameras in the area. 

The popular spot contains more than 16 square kilometres of eucalypt and rainforest.

Queensland Police and SES volunteers began searching several trails on Thursday before the operation resumed on Friday.

Concerned members of Ms Trotter’s hiking group have joined the search, scouring the trails for any sign. 

Bushwalkers and residents at Mt Coot-tha and Toowong are being asked to keep a lookout.

Ms Trotter is described as Caucasian in appearance, approximately 162cm tall with an athletic build, short blonde hair and blue eyes.