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A young person from the Land Down Under has appeared in court after allegedly defacing a sizable blue sculpture of a mythical creature by applying googly eyes to it.

Amelia Vanderhorst, aged 19, participated remotely at Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in South Australia on that day, charged with one count of damaging property.

Officials commented at the time of the September incident, the local council explained that CCTV footage captured a individual placing artificial eyes on the artwork, which residents have nicknamed the “Blue Blob”.

Ms Vanderhorst made no plea and informed the judge she was ill, according to news outlets, with the magistrate advising her to secure a legal representative before her upcoming hearing in December.

A day after the reported event, the city leader said that restoration to the popular community sculpture would be costly as the adhesive eyes were impossible to be detached without harming the sculpture.

“This wilful damage to a cherished public artwork is unacceptable and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor remarked in mid-September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is pricey - it is also disappointing to those people of our society who have welcomed Cast in Blue.”

The mayor said the local government would pursue the “significant” repair costs from those accountable for the damage.

When the sculpture was first proposed, it received varied responses from the local community due to its cost and design.

Priced at 136,000 Australian dollars ($89,000; £68,000), the sculpture depicts a legendary giant animal, with the creators inspired by an prehistoric anteater-like marsupial found in nearby caverns that was “huge, slow-moving, and intriguing”.