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

The 19-year-old, aged 19, participated via phone at the local court in the state of South Australia on Tuesday, facing with a single charge of property damage.

In a statement at the moment of the September incident, the local council explained that surveillance video captured a person putting artificial eyes on the artwork, which residents have dubbed the “Blue Blob”.

The accused did not enter a plea and informed the court she was unwell, as reported by media sources, with the magistrate advising her to find a legal representative before her next court date in December.

The following day the alleged incident, the city leader said that repairs to the popular community sculpture would be costly as the adhesive eyes were impossible to 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 pricey - it is also disappointing to those members of our society who have embraced the Blue Blob.”

She said the council would pursue the “substantial” restoration expenses from those responsible for the damage.

At the time the artwork was initially suggested, it received varied responses from the local community due to its price tag and design.

Priced at 136,000 Australian dollars (eighty-nine thousand US dollars; £68,000), the artwork represents a legendary giant animal, with the creators inspired by an ancient anteater-like marsupial discovered in local caves that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.