The owners of a plot of land in Australia that is so coveted by developers it might be worth upwards of $30 million have told them where to go, insisting the land still isn’t for sale.
The house, which is surrounded by a vast garden and is nowadays sat amongst endless new-build development houses, has stood exactly where it is for decades, much like the owning family, who are determined to resist the development of their plot at any price.
The Zammit family have been on the plot of land in Sydney for ages, and that’s the way they want things to stay, despite the vast amounts being offered for them to leave.
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Those amounts keep going up, too.
Still, the family has told those who wish to level their property and throw up loads of expensive houses on the site to keep ‘dreaming’.
In short, they’re not looking to sell up, the land is not for sale, so stop asking, thanks very much.
As you can see from the pictures and above video, it sticks out just a bit in the area.
The house and garden is situated in an area of Sydney called The Ponds, where – over the years – hundreds of properties have been chucked up around it.
The 1.99 hectares that their five-bedroom house sits on could fit 50 houses like those surrounding it within its bounds.
But, whilst other neighbours have upped sticks and left, allowing the developers to move in, the Zammit family aren’t budging.
They’ve been offered millions, and turned the lot down.
Even the real estate agents are impressed, with local agent Taylor Bredin telling 7News: “The fact that most people sold out years and years ago, these guys have held on.
“All credit to them.”
He continued: “Depending on how far you push the development plan, you’d be able to push anywhere from 40 to 50 properties on something like this, and when subdivided, a 300 square metre block would get a million dollars.”
So, that means that whole lot would be worth massively more than that.
Around $30.5 million – American dollars, that is – or around £25 million.
As the area around them was turned from building site to identical houses, the Zammits have continued to mind their own business, until their home was the only original one left.
Diane Zammit has spoken nostalgically of the ‘farmland dotted with little red brick homes and cottages’ that used to be the hallmark of the area.
She told Daily Mail Australia: “Every home was unique and there was so much space - but not anymore.
“It’s just not the same.”
That doesn’t mean they’re planning to leave though, and for any developers reading, she had this message: “Tell ‘em they’re dreaming.”
Even those who have moved into the area are glad the Zammits have stood their ground.
One nearby resident said: "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.
"Our neighbours don't get that because the other houses are so close together.
“We're very grateful! I hope they stay."
Well, it certainly doesn’t seem like they’re leaving any time soon.
Topics: Australia, World News, Weird, Money
Tom Wood