Every now and then, South Australia delivers a moment that reminds us just how generous, passionate and beautifully connected our community really is. And the Emerald Way Charity Home? It’s exactly that.
The team behind the Emerald Way Charity Home
On the morning of Friday 21 November 2025, The Amelie — a stunning double-storey Emerald Way Charity Home in Mount Barker — officially sold at auction for an incredible $975,000, with every cent of the net proceeds supporting Variety SA — The Children’s Charity. That’s life-changing help for kids who are sick, experiencing disadvantage, or living with disability… all made possible through a project built on love.
This is far more than just another house sale. It’s a story of turning unimaginable grief turned into hope, and it all started with Joe Belperio, Owner and Director of Emerald Way Mount Barker. After losing his daughter, Amelie, at just three years old, Joe donated the land in her honour — an act that sparked an outpouring of generosity from fellow South Australians.
More than 30 South Australian businesses rallied behind the cause, donating their time, skills and resources to bring this beautiful family home to life. The biggest contribution came from the phenomenal Urban Edge SA, who fully funded and built the entire home as part of their 30-year anniversary.
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- Auction day of the Emerald Way Charity Home
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- ‘The Amelie’
“The Amelie was designed to nurture family life — a home filled with warmth, beauty and purpose,” says Ameen Farah, Managing Director of Urban Edge SA. “Seeing it come to life with the help of so many generous people has been truly special.”
With Century 21 SA coordinating the campaign, beloved auctioneer Tom Panos taking the mic (yep, the same one from The Block!!), and a live broadcast on 5AA, the atmosphere was electric. Locals packed the street, bidders came ready, and supporters tuned in from every corner of the state.
A no-reserve auction meant anything could happen… and South Australians delivered. The hammer dropped at $975,000 — a figure that will have an enormous impact on children in SA.
“This home symbolises hope and what can be achieved when a community comes together with purpose,” says CEO Mark McGill. “The funds raised will have a profound impact on families in need — from essential equipment to vital support services. This generosity truly changes lives.”
The Emerald Way Charity Home is more than timber, tiles and paint. It’s proof that when South Australians unite, extraordinary things happen.
The team behind the Emerald Way Charity Home
For the full list of incredible SA businesses and supporters behind the project, visit the Emerald Way Charity Home website.
And to rewind all the way back to the beginning, check out more of the origin story here.
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