Photo: © 2010 YouTube

The Big Potato, in the Southern Highlands town of Robertson, was given a facelife – or more precisely, a paper mache Mr Potato Head face – early on Saturday morning.

The new addition to the local attraction proved a hit, with a huge increase in mainies noted.

Even the president of the town's Chamber of Commerce has been singing its praises.

But by Sunday morning, the nose, eyes and mustachioed mouth had all been removed by persons unknown.    

The anonymous prankster behind the makeover says townsfolk want the new fixture returned.

"We intentionally put it up on Saturday because that is the busiest day for the area," he told NineMSN.

"We’ve had lots of locals, tourists and even the chamber of commerce ask about it — it’s a good piece of publicity."

The Big Potato was erected by a local councillor in the 1970s as a monument to the area's spud farmers, but has since acquired the nickname, The Big Turd.

The Big Things website calls it "truly appalling" and says it is "memorable only for its complete lack of any appealing or noteworthy features, other than it's unfortunate resemblance to a giant lump of excrement".