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A teenager from the Land Down Under has faced legal proceedings after allegedly vandalizing a sizable blue sculpture of a mythical creature by applying googly eyes to it.

The 19-year-old, 19 years old, appeared via phone at the local court in the state of South Australia on that day, charged with one count of property damage.

Officials commented at the moment of the September incident, the local council explained that CCTV footage showed a person placing fake eyes on the sculpture, which locals have nicknamed the “Cast in Blue”.

The accused did not enter a plea and told the judge she was unwell, according to media sources, with the magistrate recommending her to secure a lawyer before her upcoming hearing in December.

A day after the alleged incident, the local mayor stated that restoration to the popular community sculpture would be costly as the stickers could not be removed without damaging the art piece.

“This wilful damage to a valued community art is unacceptable and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor remarked in mid-September. “It is not harmless fun, it is costly - it is also frustrating to those people of our community who have welcomed the Blue Blob.”

The mayor said the council would seek the “significant” restoration expenses from those accountable for the damage.

When the artwork was first proposed, it drew mixed reactions from the area residents due to its price tag and appearance.

Costing 136,000 Australian dollars ($89,000; £68,000), the sculpture depicts a legendary giant animal, with the creators inspired by an ancient marsupial ant-eater discovered in nearby caverns that was “huge, slow-moving, and intriguing”.