Stunning aerial shots the differences an area has undergone, after one defiant homeowner refused to sell up to developers.
The Zammit family live on a two-hectare block of land in The Ponds, a suburb of Sydney in Australia, and despite receiving offers of millions of dollars have made it clear they’re not going anywhere. You can see the before and after here:
Footage shared online shows how the house was originally set within a largely rural area, with a few other properties dotted about, but as time goes on more and more houses surround the Zammits’ home.
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And that’s because the home is slap-bang in the middle of a huge development, which has seen hundreds of homes pop up over recent years.
However, despite being offered a reported AUD$50m (US$33.7m), they are staying put.
And their stance has earned them praise from others, who are impressed with their staying power.
Local real estate agent Taylor Bredin told 7News that the land has the ability to accommodate up to 50 houses subdivided into 3,200-square-foot blocks.
He revealed that every one of the 50 potential lodgings could be valued at around one million dollars each.
Although it sticks out like a sore thumb, the family have been praised for their stance.
Bredin said: "The fact that most people sold out years and years ago, these guys have held on. All credit to them."
While, a neighbor, whose home directly faces the property, said they hoped the family remained in their home for good.
One, whose home directly faces the property, revealed: "I will wave to them when I see them outside and they always wave back, but I don't really speak to them.
"I'm very happy they've refused to sell - it means we have a cul-de-sac which is much safer for our kids - and their big lawn next to us makes it feel like we've got so much space."
They added: "Our neighbors don't get that because the other houses are so close together. We're very grateful! I hope they stay."
But despite their determination, Diane Zammit, who has lived in the property with her family for almost two decades, said the area is vastly different from when they first moved in.
Speaking to the Daily Mail about the changes she’s seen in recent times, she said: “It used to be farmland dotted with little red brick homes and cottages.
“Every home was unique and there was so much space – but not anymore. It’s just not the same.”
Topics: Australia
Claire Reid