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A teenager from the Land Down Under has faced legal proceedings after reportedly defacing a large blue sculpture of a legendary being by affixing googly eyes to it.

Amelia Vanderhorst, aged 19, participated remotely at the local court in South Australia on that day, facing with one count of damaging property.

In a statement at the time of the September incident, the municipal authorities explained that CCTV footage showed a individual putting artificial eyes on the artwork, which residents have nicknamed the “Cast in Blue”.

Ms Vanderhorst made no plea and told the judge she was ill, as reported by media sources, with the magistrate recommending her to secure a legal representative before her upcoming hearing in the final month of the year.

A day after the reported event, the city leader stated that repairs to the popular community sculpture would be expensive as the adhesive eyes could not be removed without harming the sculpture.

“This intentional vandalism to a valued public artwork is unacceptable and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor remarked in mid-September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is pricey - it is also frustrating to those people of our community who have welcomed Cast in Blue.”

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

At the time the artwork was initially suggested, it drew 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 sculpture’s designers influenced by an ancient marsupial ant-eater found in nearby caverns that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.