The rural Queensland town of Wieambilla is still in shock after two police officers and an innocent bystander who were killed in a calculated ambush.
The police were sent to the property, which is situated in the quiet town about four hours west of Brisbane, for a routine welfare check
Three people ..two brothers and a woman armed and wearing camouflage gear, opened fire without warning.
All three of them ended up dead, as did a neighbour, and the two young police constables.
The mayor of Queensland's Western Downs region, Paul McVeigh, says the killings have numbed the community.
The two officers who were killed have been identified as 29-year-old Constable Rachel McCrow, and 26-year-old Constable Matthew Arnold.
The offenders lit a fire in an attempt to smoke out two surviving officers who had retreated.
They were both taken to hospital.
The fire caught the attention of a man now identified as 58-year-old Alan Dare, who was at a neighbouring property.
He was killed when he tried to investigate the source of gun fire.
Flags are flying at half-mast across Australia and tributes have been flowing for the two officers and the neighbour.
While Western Downs, which has a population of around 3500, covers a vast area, its mayor says the community is tight-knit.
Forensic officers are continuing to examine the crime scene.
Investigations are also underway into the three perpetrators, with reports they harboured conspiracy theories about the police and the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.
