Back in May, an Australian family made headlines for quite literally standing their ground.
Known as the Zammit family, they declined a $AUD 50 million (approximately $USD 32 million) offer from developers who had built a neighborhood around their entire property, giving way to a spectacular vision in the area.
A family in Australia has consistently refused to sell their land spanning five acres
Image credits: 7news
Indeed, photos surfaced of the Zammits’ house, where their long green patch of property was entirely surrounded by blocks and blocks of identical houses.
The Aussies cherished their Windsor Castle-style residence so much, they were reportedly unwilling to assign a monetary value to it and wave it away to developers.
The five-bedroom house might reportedly be worth upwards of $AUD 30 million
Image credits: 7news
As a result, the developers in question simply built an entire neighborhood circling the property, which now sticks out like a sore thumb amid the rows of cookie-cutter houses.
The Zammits are a reportedly “extremely private family” and have refused to discuss the offers they’ve been made to move out.
The house now sticks out like a sore thumb amid the rows of cookie-cutter houses
Image credits: 7news
However, the family has admitted the land has become unrecognizable from when they moved in 16 years ago.
Diane Zammit, the mother of the family, told Daily Mail Australia: “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 any more. It’s just not the same.”
Image credits: 7news
The still-standing historic estate is located a mere 40-minute drive from the heart of Sydney, and features a 650-foot driveway enveloped by lush garden surroundings. Additionally, it offers a sweeping vista of the adjacent Blue Mountains.
The residence spans five acres and is situated in The Ponds area near Quakers Hill.
Local real estate agent Taylor Bredin told 7News: “The fact that most people sold out years and years ago, these guys have held on. All credit to them.”
The mother of the Australian family said that “every home was unique” before developers bought the surrounding properties
Image credits: 7news
This house in Australia has continually rejected offers for purchase, most recently a $50 million dollar offer, per 7News: pic.twitter.com/jCtxOMTCn6
— unusual_whales (@unusual_whales) May 7, 2023
Taylor thought that the land had the ability to accommodate up to 50 houses and that every one of the possible housings could be valued at around one million dollars each.
After being offered millions of Australian dollars, the family is currently still sticking to their guns, declining every single offer they have received to sell the plot.
The five-bedroom house might reportedly be worth upwards of $AUD 30 million (approximately $USD 19 million), with proposals that keep on growing.
However, the Zammit family is not the only stubborn homeowners who have refused to sell their property
Image credits: unknown
According to recent reports, the family has told those who wish to level their property and throw up loads of expensive houses on the site to keep “dreaming”.
It appears that the family has still as of today not given into the estate-hungry developers.
The Zammits wouldn’t be the first stubborn homeowners in history behind some of the most visually kooky-looking neighborhoods.
Image credits: wirednewyork.com
In 2006, Edith Macefield became famous for turning down a reported $USD 1 million offer to sell her home to make way for a commercial development in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle.
Instead, the five-story project was constructed around her 108-year-old farmhouse, where she passed away at the age of 86 due to pancreatic cancer in 2008.
Edith later became the inspiration for the Pixar movie UP. The house is still standing at 1438 NW 46th St.
One particular homeowner inspired the Pixar movie “UP”
Image credits: commons.wikimedia.org
Mary Cook was the only matriarch of her family by 1915. Before passing away in 1932, Mary refused to sell her narrow, handsome townhouse located in New York City’s West End Avenue while all the neighboring homes were being demolished.
Today, the house sits tightly squeezed between its giant neighbors and condominium buildings.
Mary’s house, which has escaped the wrecking ball to this day, was reportedly sold and converted into an art gallery before being split into a number of apartments.
Image credits: ackerlaw.com
Portland attorney Randal Acker also refused to sell his small Queen Anne Victorian home, which he purchased in 2005 in Downtown Portland.
Randal famously named the house after his dog, Figo.
In 2006, Portland’s mass transit authority, TriMet, attempted to acquire the Figo house, but was met with Randal’s successful lawyer arguing skills.
As a result, developers built a huge Portland State University Residence Hall all around it.
Readers were divided on whether they would’ve sold their house or not
I've never understood why people want to live so close you can spit from your porch and hit their house. No one has ever tried to buy our property and home but we have had 2 neighbors (one not even within sight), that didn't like us and the fac that our land has been in the family so long the county has no say over what we do with it. County pretty much said we can do anything we please short of a nuclear waste facility. We do keep it neat, clean and mowed even though there is a commercial building (block/stucco) on it. That building is basically used for storage and is not unsightly. Some people just can't accept they can't control other people.
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How is the big house with the huge lawn and not the copy-paste row houses the eyesore!?!?!?
I know right? I would at least plant some treas. Make for some privacy.
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I live in a city where we've had a couple of houses not sell out when their neighbors did and have the lone house surrounded by a building. It really destroys their back yard, but at the same time, maybe they enjoy that privacy. I wouldn't want to mow that 5 acre lawn lol. Good for them though.
I've never understood why people want to live so close you can spit from your porch and hit their house. No one has ever tried to buy our property and home but we have had 2 neighbors (one not even within sight), that didn't like us and the fac that our land has been in the family so long the county has no say over what we do with it. County pretty much said we can do anything we please short of a nuclear waste facility. We do keep it neat, clean and mowed even though there is a commercial building (block/stucco) on it. That building is basically used for storage and is not unsightly. Some people just can't accept they can't control other people.
Load More Replies... How is the big house with the huge lawn and not the copy-paste row houses the eyesore!?!?!?
I know right? I would at least plant some treas. Make for some privacy.
Load More Replies... I live in a city where we've had a couple of houses not sell out when their neighbors did and have the lone house surrounded by a building. It really destroys their back yard, but at the same time, maybe they enjoy that privacy. I wouldn't want to mow that 5 acre lawn lol. Good for them though.
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