THE hunt for fugitive and convicted child rapist Andrew Darling has expanded to take in more of Victoria.
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Darling, 42, has now been on the run for more than two days after he walked out of Ararat's Corella Place correctional facility shortly after 2.30am on Sunday.
Police on Tuesday urged rural landowners in the Ararat area to remain vigilant around sheds and outhouses on their properties and to report anything suspicious to police.
They are also asking for residents who notice stolen food or clothing to contact police.
Police searched the immediate area on Sunday but could not locate him.
Police have now released two photos of Darling, who was convicted of the rape of a 13-year-old girl in 2000.
He served nine years in Port Phillip Prison.
In 2009, Darling was hunted by police after breaking parole and later arrested in Queensland.
Darling escaped from Corella Place in 2010 and was on the run for 51 hours before being arrested at the Landsborough Hotel.
Police spokeswoman Leonie Johnson said he had bush survival skills and was known to frequent licensed venues.
He is Caucasian and about 176 centimetres tall, with a medium build, blue eyes, fair-coloured close-cropped hair and a fair complexion.
He has both his ears pierced and tattoos on his right lower leg, back and arms.
Police do not know what Darling was last seen wearing, but said he was known to wear camouflage clothing.
Fugitive taskforce detectives and Ararat police have undertaken extensive searches of the Ararat area.
"Anyone with any information about his whereabouts should call 000 immediately," Ms Johnson said.