🔗 Share this article

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

Amelia Vanderhorst, aged 19, appeared remotely at Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in South Australia on Tuesday, facing with one count of property damage.

In a statement at the time of the recent event, the municipal authorities explained that surveillance video captured a person putting fake eyes on the artwork, which locals have nicknamed the “Cast in Blue”.

Ms Vanderhorst did not enter a plea and informed the court she was ill, as reported by media sources, with the judge advising her to secure a lawyer before her next court date in December.

The following day the alleged incident, the local mayor said that restoration to the popular public artwork would be costly as the stickers could not be removed without damaging the art piece.

“This intentional vandalism to a cherished community art is inappropriate 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 Cast in Blue.”

The mayor added the council would pursue the “significant” repair costs from those responsible for the damage.

When the artwork was initially suggested, it drew varied responses from the area residents due to its price tag and appearance.

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