Man charged with murder over disappearance of missing mum Allison Bernard

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this story contains images of a person who is believed to be deceased.

A man has been charged with murder over the "suspicious disappearance" of Allison Bernard more than a decade ago.

The Kowanyama woman was last seen at Archer River Quarry in Far North Queensland at 11pm on February 10, 2013.

Detectives have since charged a 62-year-old Coen man with one count of murder.

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The 23-year-old mother-of-two had also been seen earlier at the Exchange Hotel.

She was expected to travel to Kowanyama but she never arrived.

A large-scale search was carried out in the area at the time, while another in 2021 used drones and new camera technology, but no trace of Bernard has ever been found.

The major development comes a year after police announced a $500,000 reward for information into the 23-year-old's disappearance.

Detective Superintendent Sonia Smith told media last year that police remained determined to find Bernard.

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"We will not give up," Smith said.

"Ms Bernard's disappearance has had a devastating impact on this community and together we won't stop until we find answers.

"We would like to thank the local community who continues to support our ongoing investigations and urge members of the public to continue spreading the word – anyone with information should immediately contact police."

The man will appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court today.