Police say the death scene of a mother and her three young children was "horrific" and like nothing they have ever encountered, after a shooting at a NSW Riverina region homestead.
"I don't think even the most hardened professional could remain unmoved by what's out there," Wagga Wagga Local Area Commander Superintendent Bob Noble told reporters.
"It's certainly not something I've encountered anything similar to before, and I hope not to ever again."
Police are searching for the children's father as they try to piece together the events leading to the tragedy at the farming property on Boree Creek Road, northwest of the town of Lockhart.
Ambulance officers and police found the bodies of the woman and her children on Tuesday afternoon.
They've been named by local media as 41-year-old mother Kim Hunt, her son Fletcher, 10, and daughters Mia and Phoebe, eight and six.
Supt Noble said the focus of the investigation was locating the 44-year-old father, Geoff Hunt, who is so far unaccounted for.
"There are a lot of witnesses we wish to speak to in relation to the lead-up to this event, what might have caused this tragedy," he said on Wednesday.
"In the meantime, our focus does remain on finding that 44-year-old man."
Supt Noble said police believed the mother and children were killed early Tuesday or late on Monday, but were not able to definitively determine the time of death at such an early stage
All four are believed to have died after suffering gunshot wounds, although a port mortem is still to be conducted.
The children were found inside the home while Mrs Hunt's body was found on the footpath outside.
The murder weapon had yet to be found, Supt Noble said.
Police divers were due to arrive at the property, about 80km west of Wagga Wagga on Wednesday afternoon.
They will search a dam at the property, after a white ute was found abandoned nearby.
A ground search will also be conducted on the large rural property.
Supt Noble would not comment on reports a suicide note had been found at the property.
He also declined to say whether or not police were confident of finding Mr Hunt on the farm.
"We're ruling nothing out," he said.
"We're very careful (not) to jump to any conclusions or make any assumptions."
Mr Hunt is described as Caucasian, about 193cm tall, with a medium and athletic build, short brown hair and clean-shaven face.
The public have been told not to approach him if he is seen.
Asked if there was a history of violence at the Boree Creek Rd property, Supt Noble said: "It's not a residence of particular concern to us."
The Hunt family were well loved by the local community, he said.
"It's going to send quite a shock wave through those communities and throughout the whole area," he said.
"These people were well integrated into the local community through work, through social events, through sport. Three young children attended the local school.
"It is going to devastate everyone."
Lockhart Mayor Peter Yates said the 900-strong town community was in severe shock.
"It's just really, really, really traumatising," he told ABC radio.
Deputy mayor Roger Schirmer said the mood was very sombre.
"They were a highly regarded solid family - it will rock this town," he said.
Mrs Hunt, a nurse, had started work at a Lockhart hospital and was previously an intensive care nurse in Wagga Wagga.
"A lovely person, a lovely family," Mr Schirmer said.
Mr Yates said the council was considering bringing in special counsellors to help the community deal with their grief.
Mrs Hunt's colleagues at Lockhart Hospital are devastated.
"Kim is remembered as a bubbly, positive, caring and passionate nurse who was dedicated to patient care," local health district spokesperson Jill Ludford said.
"She was very excited to still be able to use her skills and knowledge to educate other nurses.
"Her death is a huge loss and she will be greatly missed by all of her colleagues and friends."
The children attended St Joseph's Primary School in Lockhart.
The Catholic school was expected to release a statement on Wednesday.
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