For decades, the Miliado family’s three-acre property in Salisbury, Adelaide, stood untouched amid rapid suburban growth. Purchased in the 1950s, the family refused to sell for over 30 years, honoring their late parents’ wish to preserve the land and its legacy. Surrounded by sleek modern homes, the modest 1955-built house and its original interiors became a symbol of resistance to development.

But after their parents’ passing, emotional and financial pressures led the family to finally list the land. Marketed as a “rare land holding,” the property drew strong interest. Twenty developers bid at auction, pushing the price from an expected AUD 3.6 million to over AUD 6 million.

While the sale brought financial relief, it marked the end of a chapter for the Miliados. The land is now set for residential redevelopment, symbolizing the ongoing clash between heritage and urban expansion.