The site at the corner of Lewis and Mortimer streets is recognisable for its office made from a converted train carriage, set in an imitation railway platform.

And while the Sydney station list that was located on the yard's toilet block had gone missing a number of years ago, owner James Hickey's exasperation was compounded when he noticed that the two 'Mudgee' signs had been taken some time in the past few months.

"I just thought 'are you kidding me?' It's really disappointing," he said. And added that what's been taken are pieces of a setting that's renowned among locals and eye-catching to visitors.

"It's amazing how many people refer to this site as the train carriage and you'd get those that are passing by, when you're there, and they want to have a look around and grab a photo. And those items are of significance," he said.

"I just hope - even if it's a long shot - that when it's out there that someone has a whisper in another person's ear about where they are. Because you can't put them up in your driveway."

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The signs were made when the platform and carriage setting was built to serve as the yard office for Col Matthews Motors. Long-time Mudgee real estate agent, Hugh Bateman, said that when Mr Hickey told him what happened he shared his frustration that the set was broken up - and questioned what purpose the stolen signs could even serve.

"It was set up and represented a nice, key point of difference for the car business. And all of the items complemented each other and created the ambiance of a railway station," he said.

"It's sad that it's happened and that someone decided that they needed it more than the owner.

"There won't any other items of those types, so where are you going to put them? In your 'man cave', because someone will see it and ask where you got it.

"And you won't be able to enjoy them in any kind of public forum. Because they are a unique item, so it's to no one's benefit - even the thief who took them."

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