David Gamble, better known as Radio Dave, was found dead at his Wendouree home on Thursday, aged 39.

A Ballarat icon, Mr Gamble had long been a familiar face on the streets of Ballarat.

He was renowned for his mobile beep-box and quirky antics but was yesterday remembered as an enigma known of by many, but understood by few.

"I think most people would have seen him and recognised him, he's pretty distinctive," UnitingCare Ballarat executive director Cliff Barclay said.

UnitingCare was one of Mr Gamble's regular haunts that he wandered the streets of Ballarat to visit, invariably treading the footpaths to the tune of his latest musical fad.

"He's a bit of a Ballarat icon, Radio Dave," Mr Barclay said.

"I don't want to make him out to be an angel or anything, because he certainly wasn't, he was a troubled soul that sort of, in his own unique way, became a part of the Ballarat landscape."

Mr Gamble was a regular at Australia Fare Pie Shop in Sturt St, where part-owner Debbie Lewis said he used to drop in.

"He came in every day, we had a chair for him out in the backyard. He used to sit out in the backyard and have a coffee and something to eat each afternoon.

"I know the first time he ever approached me... he just looked so down-and-out, so cold, so dirty and he just said, "Lady, can you make me a cup of coffee," and I said, 'Yeah I can do,' and it started from there."

UnitingCare staff discovered Mr Gamble dead at his Wendouree house at midday on Thursday. He had not been seen in several days and staff were concerned for his welfare.

Police said Mr Gamble died of natural causes, although a post mortem will be conducted in Melbourne.

A funeral service will be held by UnitingCare and Centacare next week.

In the meantime, people like Laurie Nigro, who owns McDonald's in Sturt St, are grappling with his death.

"I'm certainly shocked a little bit, it's only three or four days ago that I saw him down the street and to hear suddenly that he's passed away - it's a bit of a shock really," Mr Nigro said.