DESCRIPTION:
- 21 years of age at time of disappearance.
- Light skinned.
- 182 cm tall (5’10”).
- Medium build.
- Fair hair.
- Blue eyes.
- Wore glasses.
- Beard and moustache whilst travelling.
- Has a birthmark in the shape of a ‘splash’ shape below his left knee.
QUICK CASE FACTS:
- Left Queensland on his bicycle in November 1984 to ride around Australia.
- Travelled through New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.
- Had his bike stolen in Adelaide around May 1985 and bought a new one.
- New bike was described as a light brown/bronze coloured ‘Porsch’ brand with rear saddle bags fitted.
- Travelled to Darwin, arriving in May 1985.
- Camped overnight Thursday 29 August 1985 at Windjana Gorge in the King Leopold Ranges (approximately 355 km east of Broome).
- Last seen on Friday 30 August 1985 leaving the camp site heading towards Derby.
BACKGROUND:
Bradley James Anderson was born and educated in Queensland. After completing his Bachelor of Arts Degree (majoring in Journalism), he worked as a cadet journalist for the Queensland Times in Ipswich from May to September 1984. He resigned from his job to take the time to cycle around Australia to see the country.
Mr Anderson had been in the Army Reserve and enjoyed outdoors activities like abseiling and bushwalking. He was also thinking of writing his own book and believed experiences travelling throughout Australia could form the basis of that book.
Windjana Gorge National Park is in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, approximately 1800 km northeast of Perth and around 350 km east of Broome.
CASE DETAILS:
In November 1984, Mr Anderson set out from Queensland on his 10 speed bike which was equipped with panniers (a basket, bag, box, or similar container, carried in pairs). He took with him a backpack, two-man tent and camping equipment.
Whilst travelling he sent regular letters to his parents, often enclosing unprocessed rolls of film he had taken with his small Kodak camera.
Whilst in Adelaide, Mr Anderson’s original bike was stolen, he purchased a new light brown/bronze coloured ‘Porsch’ brand to continue his journey.
Mr Anderson left Adelaide in May 1985, heading north. In the main street of Port Augusta, he bumped into an old school friend and told him he had arranged a lift with a truck driver towards Darwin. Mr Anderson mentioned that he intended to alternate between cycling and then hitching lifts for the; “long boring stretches”.
Mr Anderson reached Darwin in May 1985 and made his way into the North of Western Australia. He took the Gibb River Road and headed towards Derby.
On the night of Thursday 29 August 1985, Mr Anderson spent the night camping at Windjana Gorge in the King Leopold Ranges (approximately 355 km east of Broome). He paid the ranger $3 for his camping permit.
The next morning, Mr Anderson spoke to the same ranger who gave him details of two waterholes on the way to Derby where he could replenish his water bottles. One was on Kimberley Downs Station (about 10km south of the Windjana Gorge turnoff) and the other was Blina Station (about 50km further on).
On this day, the weather was warm, with a maximum temperature in the mid-30s. Mr Anderson set off on his travels at 10am. This was the last sighting of Mr Anderson.
Mr Anderson was reported missing by a family member on 13 November 1985. Police conducted a search of the Gibb River Road area with local cattle stations, rangers and missions asked to keep an eye out for Mr Anderson.
In October 1987 an aerial search was conducted by Police Air Wing of the Gibb River Road between Derby and Windjana Gorge and the general Gorge area. Neither Mr Anderson or his bicycle were located during the aerial search.
To this date there have been no positive sightings of Mr Anderson and none of his personal effects have been located.
The person or persons responsible for Mr Anderson’s disappearance have not yet been identified.
If you have any information about Bradley James Anderson disappearance, or his movements around Western Australia in August 1985 please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make an online report below. Please remember that you can remain anonymous if you wish and rewards are offered.
