Five years after James Hunter went missing from Western NSW, police are renewing their appeal to locate him. 

Mr Hunter was last seen at a pharmacy on Macquarie Street in Dubbo on 28 February 2020. 

James Hunter, who was 52 at the time of his disappearance, lived in the Newcastle suburb Tighes Hill and travelled to western NSW for work on rural properties in Dubbo, Mendooran, and Dunedoo. 

He was also known to frequent Walgett and Lightning Ridge for opal mining. 

He has not accessed his bank accounts since. Family members last saw him in person in December 2019 when he was in the Newcastle Area. 

Mr Hunter is the son of Australian actor Bill Hunter. 

He was reported missing to police in July 2021 after failing to make contact with his family for several months. 

In March 2022, Detectives attached to Orana Mid-Western Police District established Strike Force to investigate the circumstances surrounding Mr Hunter's disappearance. 

That same month Mr Hunter's blue 2005-model Toyota Hilux was located on a property he was working at in Mendooran and it was seized for forensic examination.

The Toyota Hilux that belonged to Mr Hunter. Photo: NSW Police

On 22 and 23 March 2024, 1700 hectares of land northwest of Mendooran were searched with the use of high-tech drones carrying out 52 flights. 

Investigators captured and processed 33,000 high-resolution images as part of the investigation. 

Police and family members continue to hold concern for his welfare and are hoping community members are able to provide more information relevant to ongoing investigations. 

Mr Hunter is described as being of Caucasian appearance, 175 cm tall, and of a medium build with brown hair and eyes. 

Members of the public can contact police by calling either the Dubbo Police Station on 02 6883 1599 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.