In Melbourne's south-east, a black leather briefcase containing poetry written by locals, rests on the ground, chained to a picnic table.
It can be found at the stunning Half Moon Bay lookout, accessible by a walking track between Sandringham and Black Rock.
Hampton resident Justin Clarkson said the briefcase was known as a "poetry pouch" and had been an icon for Bayside locals for many years.
But this week, the pouch suddenly went missing.
In response, a Bayside facebook group was alight with comments from concerned residents all asking the same question: where has the pouch gone?
Bayside witness breaks silence
Mr Clarkson said he saw council workers cutting the chain, and he confronted them about it.
"The reason [the contractors] gave to me was there was a pen there, and someone took the pen out and graffitied the table."
Mr Clarkson said instead of removing something loved by locals, the council should celebrate the community initiative.
"Why would you do that?" he said.
"What they should be doing is putting a sign there and calling it 'poet's corner' and create a unique spot for people."
Council apologises
Bayside City Council mayor Laurence Evans said its contractors were responsible for the removal of the pouch, but not because they intended to remove it.
He said it was unchained to clean up graffiti from the park bench, and has since "disappeared".
"We apologise for unchaining it to do the repairs and maintenance."
But he said he had been assured it would be replaced by the "Banksy of Bayside" by the weekend.
"We don't know how it disappeared. We hope it will be there by the weekend," he said.
"I'll leave it to the anonymous poetry person, I've been assured it is going to be replaced."
Cr Evans said the pouch was "absolutely" allowed to remain in its seaside spot.
"It's something led by our community and we've got a number of these things in our community," he said.
"We've got a whiteboard at Black Rock where people put their thoughts on, we've got a couple of letterboxes in Sandringham where people put their books."
It is understood the council sent out a search party to find the pouch, to no avail.
Original pouch owner offers support
Simon from Beaumaris said he was the original person who placed the poetry pouch in its location about seven years ago.
"It was something I did with my children and has been there in various incarnations," he told ABC Radio Melbourne.
While he has not been responsible for the more recent pouches, he said if need be, he could replace it.
"I have another in the garage, I'm well stocked on bags," he said with a laugh.
"I go to the local op-shop and whenever I see a suitable briefcase, I'll buy it.
"I know these things won't last forever. They're ephemeral in nature."
