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A young person from Australia has faced legal proceedings after reportedly vandalizing a large art piece of a mythical creature by applying googly eyes to it.

Amelia Vanderhorst, 19 years old, appeared remotely at Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in South Australia on that day, charged with one count of property damage.

Officials commented at the moment of the September incident, the local council said that surveillance video captured a person putting fake eyes on the artwork, which residents have dubbed the “Blue Blob”.

Ms Vanderhorst made no plea and informed the judge she was unwell, according to media sources, with the judge advising her to secure a lawyer before her next court date in December.

A day after the alleged incident, the local mayor stated that repairs to the much-loved public artwork would be costly as the adhesive eyes could not be detached without damaging the sculpture.

“This intentional vandalism to a cherished public artwork is inappropriate and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor remarked in September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is costly - it is also disappointing to those members of our society who have welcomed the Blue Blob.”

The mayor added the council would seek the “significant” restoration expenses from those responsible for the vandalism.

At the time the artwork was initially suggested, it received mixed reactions from the area residents due to its cost and appearance.

Priced at 136,000 Australian dollars (eighty-nine thousand US dollars; sixty-eight thousand pounds), the sculpture depicts a legendary giant animal, with the creators inspired by an prehistoric anteater-like marsupial discovered in nearby caverns that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.