Teenager charged over allegedly sticking googly eyes to $136,000 ‘Blue Blob’ sculpture

A teenager in Australia faces charges for reportedly attaching fake eyes to a popular public sculpture known locally as the ‘Blue Blob.’

On September 13th, a 19-year-old was accused of damaging a sculpture called Cast in Blue, which is valued at AU$136,000 (around $88,000 USD).

According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, court records show Amelia Vanderhorst didn’t care if her actions harmed the artwork, demonstrating a careless disregard for its safety.

Council vows to seek restoration costs

I was so excited when Cast in Blue was unveiled in July 2025! It’s a really cool art installation the City of Mount Gambier commissioned to celebrate our area’s amazing geology and, of course, the beautiful Blue Lake. It’s a perfect way to showcase what makes our region special.

Following the vandalism in September, the Mount Gambier City Council reported that security camera footage showed someone attaching fake eyes to the sculpture around 2 AM on September 14th.

Fixing the damage will be costly, but the Council intends to seek reimbursement from whoever caused it, according to the statement.

Police told ABC News the damage from the incident was estimated at under AU$2,500, which is about $1,600 in US dollars. Vanderhorst did not enter a plea in court and was told to get a lawyer before her next hearing in December.

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2025-11-08 19:18