Beth Phillips stands in front of her mid-century Beaumaris home that she bought to save it from being bulldozed. Picture: Aaron Francis / Herald Sun

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Beth Phillips bought one of Melbourne’s most iconic mid-century houses to save it from being bulldozed.

She snapped up Black House’s Saade House featuring mirrored walls, colourful tiles and two bars at a 2022 auction when it was listed by Marshall White’s Oliver Bruce.

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The 1970s-built pad was used for filming the Olivia Newton-John: Hopelessly Devoted To You television biopic starring Delta Goodrem.

“I bought it to make sure it wouldn’t get knocked down,” Ms Phillips said.

Beth Phillips says it’ll probably cost millions to fully update the property. Picture: Aaron Francis / Herald Sun

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The suave bathroom with gold tapware. Picture: Aaron Francis / Herald Sun

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“I just think it’s one of the Bayside area’s most architecturally significant properties.”

Post-purchase, she was relieved to discover the Beaumaris Modern community group had been instrumental in getting Bayside Council to place a heritage overlay on the house’s facade.

She is planning to renovate and restore the property, originally designed by architects Holgar & Holgar for the Saade family who immigrated from Lebanon.

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Ms Phillips estimated that updating the abode would likely cost millions.

She is working with the Malvern-based studiofour architecture firm on plans which include retaining the house’s original features where possible, mixed with new finishes and fittings to deliver “a beautiful modern home with the ‘70s vibe intact”.

How the house looked when it was listed for sale in 2022.

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Another look inside the home when it was listed in 2022.

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“It’s a raunchy palace, it was built by someone who wouldn’t buy in Black Rock now,” she said.

“I want people who otherwise wouldn’t buy a house in Bayside to come and say, ‘This is the coolest joint’.”

She and her husband have previously built and refurbished other properties including two Ms Phillips sold to raise funds for women’s and children’s charities.

Ms Phillips shows off the retro staircase inside in her mid-century home in 2024. Picture: Aaron Francis / Herald Sun

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Ms Phillips is just one of multiple heritage home lovers that are making multimillion-dollar bids to save historic gems from the wrecking ball.

But as the Herald Sun reports, they’re facing a battle in the ‘burbs against buyers prepared to spend big for addresses they can demolish and replace with luxe dream pads.

Read the full story here.