sought. Council had drawn up plans for subdivision before the auction. One of the conditions of sale was that the buyer would donate the building and surrounding land to Council to renovate and preserve for posterity. The buyer would be able to develop on the remaining land. When the property did not sell, Council decided to conduct a Lord Mayor's appeal to raise funds for the restoration, but this did not eventuate. From 1974 until 1977 the property was on the real estate market by Perpetual Trustee Co. Ltd. for sale in two lots, 1) house and surrounding land (993.8sq.m.); and 2) a battle axe block with access to Smith Street (1896 sq.m.). The principal beneficiaries (Greenacres, CCS and the Anglican Church Mission) noted the property was costing them $5000 a year to maintain. Mr R. Henderson of CCS said the bank loan and interest taken out in 1973 to keep Little Milton occupied and maintained and pay the smaller beneficiaries of the will (about $15,000) was the main cause of the debt. Land taxes, rates, insurance and caretaker wages were also drawing heavily on the estate. In March 1977, the beneficiaries offered Little Milton to Wollongong City Council for $135,000 but Council rejected the offer. As a final effort to rid themselves of the property, the beneficiaries decided to try to auction the property in the two subdivisions (land parcels) worked out by Council in 1974. In 1979 Mr. & Mrs G. & C. V. A. Seymour, in seeking financial assistance, nominated the property for protection under the Heritage Act, 1977. They restored the building, replacing verandah flooring, controlling rising damp, electrical rewiring, plastering, painting, plumbing and repairs to boarding and roofs. Terminites and borers had led to general deterioration of house fabric at this time. In 1980 a grant of $3,000 was provided to engage a consultant to prepare a restoration plan of Little Milton. A further $10,000 loan was offered but not accepted. In recognition of its heritage significance and to protect the building from redevelopment and from possible road works to Smith Street a Permanent Conservation Order was placed over the property on 9 September 1983. In 1992, the owners received approval to renew the existing roof, add a new attic room and carry out general maintenance. It was transferred to the State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. Little Milton was sold for between $900,000