The 56-year-old suspect, believed to be potentially armed, is familiar with the “bush like the back of his hand” and has been described by locals to AAP as a “modern-day Ned Kelly”.

In more modern times, accused murderers have deployed the same tactic to evade the law.

Malcolm Naden

Between 2005 and 2012, Naden broke into multiple properties while evading capture in the bush, taking thousands of items of food and clothing, along with several weapons.

In 2016, police confirmed that a bone found near a Dubbo river belonged to Lateesha Nolan. Source: AAP / Vision Communicators / Brian Harvey

Police cornered him near a campsite at Nowendoc in 2011 but he escaped after shooting a policeman in the shoulder.

The former shearer and abattoir worker was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to the 2005 murders.

Gino and Mark Stocco

The pair were tracked to an Elong Elong property in central west NSW and arrested by heavily armed officers.

Gino Stocco and his son Mark were arrested in Dunedoo in north-west NSW on 28 October 2015. Source: AAP / David Moir

Detectives later discovered the body of missing Italian-born caretaker Rosario Cimone.

He said he was “relieved it’s all over” before the father and son were sentenced to respective 40-year jail terms.

James D’Zilva