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A teenager from the Land Down Under has appeared in court after allegedly defacing a large art piece of a mythical creature by affixing plastic eyes to it.

Amelia Vanderhorst, 19 years old, participated via phone at the local court in South Australia on Tuesday, charged with a single charge of damaging property.

Officials commented at the time of the recent event, the municipal authorities explained that surveillance video showed a person putting artificial eyes on the artwork, which locals have dubbed the “Blue Blob”.

The accused did not enter a plea and told the judge she was unwell, as reported by news outlets, with the magistrate recommending her to secure a legal representative before her upcoming hearing in December.

The following day the reported event, the city leader stated that repairs to the much-loved community sculpture would be costly as the stickers were impossible to be removed without harming the art piece.

“This intentional vandalism to a valued public artwork is inappropriate and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor remarked in September. “It is not harmless fun, it is pricey - it is also disappointing to those members of our community who have welcomed the Blue Blob.”

The mayor added the council would seek the “substantial” 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 price tag and design.

Priced at A$136,000 ($89,000; £68,000), the artwork depicts a legendary giant animal, with the sculpture’s designers inspired by an prehistoric anteater-like marsupial discovered in local caves that was “huge, slow-moving, and intriguing”.