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A young person from the Land Down Under has appeared in court after reportedly vandalizing a large art piece of a mythical creature by affixing googly eyes to it.

Amelia Vanderhorst, 19 years old, participated via phone at Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in the state of South Australia on that day, charged with one count of property damage.

Officials commented at the moment of the September incident, the municipal authorities explained that surveillance video captured a person placing fake eyes on the sculpture, which locals have dubbed the “Blue Blob”.

The accused made no plea and told the judge she was unwell, as reported by news outlets, with the magistrate recommending her to secure a lawyer before her next court date in December.

A day after the reported event, the local mayor said that repairs to the much-loved community sculpture would be costly as the adhesive eyes were impossible to be detached without damaging the sculpture.

“This wilful damage to a valued community art is unacceptable and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor remarked in September. “It is not harmless fun, it is costly - it is also disappointing to those members of our community who have welcomed the Blue Blob.”

She said the local government would seek the “significant” repair costs from those accountable for the damage.

When the sculpture was initially suggested, it drew mixed reactions from the local community due to its price tag and design.

Costing A$136,000 (eighty-nine thousand US dollars; £68,000), the sculpture represents a legendary giant animal, with the sculpture’s designers influenced by an prehistoric anteater-like marsupial found in nearby caverns that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.