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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 affixing googly eyes to it.

The 19-year-old, 19 years old, participated remotely at the local court in South Australia on Tuesday, charged with one count of damaging property.

Officials commented at the time of the September incident, the municipal authorities explained that CCTV footage captured a individual placing fake eyes on the artwork, which locals have dubbed the “Blue Blob”.

Ms Vanderhorst made no plea and informed the judge she was ill, as reported by news outlets, with the magistrate recommending her to secure a lawyer before her upcoming hearing in December.

The following day the alleged incident, the city leader stated that repairs to the much-loved community sculpture would be expensive as the adhesive eyes could not be removed without damaging the sculpture.

“This intentional vandalism to a cherished community art is inappropriate and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor remarked in mid-September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is costly - it is also frustrating to those members of our society who have welcomed Cast in Blue.”

She added the local government would pursue the “substantial” repair costs from those accountable for the vandalism.

When the artwork was first proposed, it received mixed reactions from the local community due to its cost and appearance.

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