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A teenager from the Land Down Under has faced legal proceedings after allegedly vandalizing a large art piece of a legendary being by affixing googly eyes to it.

Amelia Vanderhorst, aged 19, participated via phone at Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in South Australia on Tuesday, facing with a single charge of damaging property.

Officials commented at the time of the recent event, the local council said that CCTV footage captured a individual placing fake eyes on the artwork, which locals have dubbed the “Blue Blob”.

The accused did not enter a plea and told the judge she was ill, according to news outlets, with the magistrate advising her to find a lawyer before her next court date in December.

The following day the reported event, the city leader stated that repairs to the much-loved public artwork would be costly as the stickers could not be detached without harming the sculpture.

“This wilful damage to a valued public artwork is unacceptable and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor said in September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is pricey - it is also frustrating to those members of our society who have embraced Cast in Blue.”

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

When the sculpture was initially suggested, it received mixed reactions from the area residents due to its cost and appearance.

Costing A$136,000 ($89,000; £68,000), the artwork represents a mythical megafauna, with the sculpture’s designers inspired by an prehistoric anteater-like marsupial discovered in local caves that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.