Charlise Mutten: vigil held for nine-year-old girl found dead in Blue Mountains

Mourners have gathered for a candlelight vigil celebrating the life of nine-year-old girl Charlise Mutten, who was found dead after going missing while holidaying with family in the Blue Mountains last week.

The sombre vigil began about 7.15pm on Wednesday at Tweed Heads, near the Queensland-New South Wales border.

People gathered holding candles and leaving bouquets of flowers and messages outside the gates of Tweed Heads public school, where Charlise had been a student.

The school shared a recent photo of Charlise holding a literacy award she received at their end-of-year presentation day.

The prime minister, Scott Morrison, said his thoughts were with the family after the unfortunate end to a search for the missing girl.

Detectives spent several hours at the property on Tuesday as the search continued for what would end up being its final day.

Justin Stein, 31, faced court on Wednesday charged with murder after being arrested at a Surry Hills unit.

Police analysed CCTV and GPS data to narrow down their search to an area near the Colo River, alleging Stein had previously tried to float a boat at an inner-Sydney dock after allegedly purchasing sandbags from a hardware store, before travelling back to the Colo River.

Investigations are ongoing, with police yet to determine how Charlise died.