If you are driving or walking down Yambil Street or the top block of Banna Avenue, you would have no reason to think it wasn’t a typical winter’s day in Griffith. But it’s not.

Despite the many residents who are walking up and down the sidewalk at the top end of Banna Avenue, most blissfully unaware of the scene that unfolded shortly after 9am this morning, the bomb squad is en route to remove a live grenade sitting in a carpark across the road from The Area Hotel.

Inside the hotel a couple of former Griffith residents are enjoying a quiet beer.

One of the men said he had seen lighters that were replicas of the type of grenade sitting on the road.

Residents who most likely have been informed about what is going on are sitting just outside the exclusion zone.

They appear to be curious about what will unfold later today. Many long-time residents said they had never heard of anything like this happening in Griffith before.

“Oh my god,” a woman who has lived in Griffith for 75 years said.

But she did still inquire as to whether she could make a trip to a jewellery shop inside the exclusion zone.

The mood in the city is calm.

Leaves from the deciduous trees that line Banna Avenue are blowing up the street.

Residents are happily venturing as close to the device as police are allowing.

The level of interest from people who are just passing by is low.

The quiet and calm atmosphere is almost deafening.

There are cars parked in Banna Avenue just metres from where the device sits.

The sun is shining on the carpark and workers go about their business inside the Gemini Motel across the road.

The premises is undergoing a revamp.

A police officer earlier had the daunting task of walking up to the device to photograph it.

Onlookers in The Area Hotel held their breath as he crouched over the device and took a photo.

Three A4 signs in The Area Hotel read: Police notice, No entry onto the main street until further notice.

Patrons look on with interest. 

Interest, but no fear of any possible threat.