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A young person from Australia has appeared in court after allegedly vandalizing a large art piece of a legendary being by affixing googly 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.

In a statement at the time of the recent event, the local council said that surveillance video showed a individual putting artificial eyes on the artwork, which residents have nicknamed the “Cast in Blue”.

Ms Vanderhorst did not enter a plea and informed the judge she was unwell, according to media sources, with the magistrate recommending her to secure a legal representative before her next court date in December.

A day after the reported event, the city leader stated that repairs to the much-loved public artwork would be costly as the adhesive eyes could not be detached without harming the art piece.

“This wilful damage to a cherished public artwork is unacceptable and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor remarked in September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is pricey - it is also disappointing to those members of our community who have embraced Cast in Blue.”

The mayor said the local government would seek the “substantial” restoration expenses from those accountable for the vandalism.

When the sculpture was first proposed, it received varied responses from the area residents due to its cost and appearance.

Priced at 136,000 Australian dollars ($89,000; £68,000), the sculpture depicts a mythical megafauna, with the sculpture’s designers inspired by an prehistoric anteater-like marsupial found in local caves that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.