The famous Tourello Lodge letterbox, made in the 1950s, was made by the Troup family who owned the property in the 1960s.

On Saturday the current owners, the Myers family, found the letterbox gone – sawn off at the stump. They were left bewildered and absolutely devastated.

Alison Myers and her family started a social media frenzy, posting images of their missing letterbox on social media, desperate to reclaim it.

“It’s a very sturdy mailbox – we’ve always said if a car hit it, the car would come off second best,” Ms Myers said.

“We’re very attached to our mailbox. It’s been here for 70 years and is a local icon.”

The distinctive mailbox is cast iron with an oven door on the front. Ms Myers said it would take “two men” to lift it. 

Yesterday the family received good news. The mailbox was found by a neighbour, hidden under grass in a nearby ditch. 

“We noticed it was missing on Sunday morning. My son came along on Main Road and noticed it was gone. Someone had cut it off with an angle grinder. All that was left was three inches of pole.

“When it was found we were very relieved, we had been devastated that it was missing. It was part of the home.” 

The kangaroo was put on the letterbox by former owner Sandy Troup. It was the symbol of his wool business.

Ms Myers has since spoken to Mr Troup who was thrilled by the recovery. 

The family still don’t know why the letterbox was taken – rumours are swirling, with some saying it was a prank gone wrong. The family don’t really care – they are just happy the will be able to continue their tradition of putting a santa hat on the kangaroo at Christmas time.