Burrier is located on the southern side of the Shoalhaven River, about 30 kilometres from Nowra.

The family rowed 20 miles up the Shoalhaven River on September 8, 1863 from Numbaa to a new life at Burrier.

The very next morning the little boy wandered away and was never see again.

Malcolm McDonald and his wife Christina (nee McKenzie) had migrated in 1848, leaving their native Scotland.

They arrived in Sydney on November 11 after a 92-day journey aboard the steamer General Hewit.

The couple settled at Numbaa and leased a farm from David Berry of the Coolangatta Estate.

As part of the agreement Malcolm gave portions of his crops to Berry, and he grew wheat, until it was ruined by rust. He then produced maize and potatoes for the Sydney market.

After being badly affected by the big flood of 1860, McDonald bought land at Burrier and built a comfortable home there, ready to provide for his wife and family. According the Kiama Independent, the McDonalds were "respectable people" who had been prudent to the able to purchase the land.

However, it was very remote, and with only a brindle track available, they made the trip by boat.

There was excitement with the arrival at Burrier, but early next morning the mood changed to panic when it was discovered little Murdo was missing.

By noon there were 40 people involved, scouring the bush and cooeeing to attract the boy's attention.

With no means of fast communication, the police were not notified for three days, but Senior Constable Dee and Constable Thomas Grieve then quickly joined the search.

Henry Moss erected placards around Nowra, calling on other residents for help.

There were said to have been hundreds of people helping, some on horseback, with the others on foot. The boy's tracks were followed for two miles when he would have been hemmed in by mountains, and forced to double back.

Some criticism was levelled at the skills of the available trackers, but with no leads, the search was eventually abandoned.

Life went on, and as he had at Numbaa, McDonald grew his maize and potatoes.

Not surprisingly, the disappearance of the youngster had a profound effect on his family. On the lonely nights the sound of koalas sounded like a child's cry, and to Christina McDonald they served as reminders of her lost son.

Murdo's older brother Roderick was a long-time resident of the district , and when his children played near the bush, he insisted they wear something red so they could be easily spotted.

Information from Shoalhaven Historical Society.