Fifty years after eight-year-old girl Eloise Worledge went missing from her Melbourne bedroom, police have announced a $1 million reward for information regarding her suspicious disappearance.

Eloise was the eldest of three children and last seen in her bedroom at her family’s home on Scott Street in Beaumaris, in Melbourne’s southeast, around 11.40pm on January 12, 1976.

Upon entering her room, Eloise’s parents found the flyscreen on the window cut and rolled open. Nothing else appeared to have been taken from the room.

Her disappearance sparked one of the largest search operations in Victoria, involving more than 250 police officers who canvassed over 6000 properties in Beaumaris and nearby suburbs, parks, reserves, vacant properties and the foreshore over 18 days.

No trace of Eloise was found.

Over the past five decades, detectives have spoken to thousands of people and have undertaken multiple interviews with family, friends, neighbours and school contacts.

Despite their efforts, no credible evidence has ever emerged that explained the disappearance of Eloise or identified those responsible.

‘A lifetime of immense pain and grief’

In a statement, released on the 50th anniversary of the disappearance, Eloise’s sister said her “family’s lives were changed forever” after January 12, 1976.

“My memories of waking up to find her missing are still very vivid and raw and the passage of time has not eased the pain of this loss,” the unnamed family member said.

“Ella was and remains deeply loved, she was more than a missing person or a case file – she was a daughter, a sister, a friend, someone who mattered greatly to all who knew her.”

Eloise’s sister said the ongoing public interest and constant suspicion surrounding her family, which is unsubstantiated, “caused a lifetime of immense grief and pain”.

“Despite this, somehow, we managed to find our own peace, however the anniversary brings up a multitude of emotions and causes a great deal of distress yet again.”

There have never been any confirmed sightings of Eloise, and police sadly hold the belief she was murdered after a coronial inquest in 2003, which presumed her death.

A cold case review in 2023 looking at alleged sexual offenders linked to Beumaris Primary School which Eloise attended at the time of her disappearance also didn’t lead to any new evidence.

However, any new information provided in relation to this will be assessed.

At the time she went missing, a $10,000 reward was offered, but on Tuesday, police announced that it will increase to $1 million.

“We understand this reward increase is being announced to keep it in line with today’s standards but that doesn’t take away from the anguish it will cause,” Eloise’s sister said.

Anyone with information about the disappearance of Eloise Worledge is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.