Social media erupts over Aussies’ Quakers Hill land

Aerial time lapses show the dramatic shift in the land surrounding the Zammit properties.

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An Australian family who refused to sell their land to developers only to watch their property become boxed in by Sydney’s ongoing urban sprawl is at the centre of another social media furore.

The Zammit family have spent years knocking back offers from developers to purchase their 20,000 sqm parcel of land near Quakers Hill, with some offers coming in at a staggering $50-$60 million.

The family had actually considered selling as far back as 2015, when they would have received a fraction of that potential $60 million.

Despite the family’s refusal, developers snapped up every other piece of land around them to construct the new The Ponds suburb.

Social media posts from late last year continue to be flooded with comments from people around the world supporting the stubborn family’s refusal to give in to developers and big corporations.

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The Zammit family remain unmoved in their quest to refuse developers offers for their land. Picture: Channel 7

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Two posts in November have attracted a combined 1500 comments.

Some people have started questioning whether the family will eventually be forced to backflip on their decision to stay put.

Commenters on Facebook believe authorities will slowly put the squeeze on the Zammit family by raising the cost of rates to a point the family will no longer be able to afford their home.

“If they don’t sell out in time the adjusted council rates will get them out in the end,” Ken Lewis commented.

Other commenters agreed.

“Yep, that’s how they will do it! Rezone, then apply higher rates accordingly until they squeeze them out financially,” Warren Muir said.

“Many people I know had their hand forced to sell their dream home in the end due to increases in council rates,” Carolyn Anne said.

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The Zammit family home looks tiny at the end of the 200m-long driveway.

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Despite the concerns, hundreds of other people have continued to show support for the Zammit family and their stance.

“Good on them, why should developers get rich,” Leo Dobjansky said.

“Good for them. Don’t bow down to greedy big corp,” Jim Robinson said.

The social media support comes at the same time as another post on Facebook showcased a time lapse video of the property.

The video shows the Zammit property when all other surrounding properties were still farmland before slowly progressing to its current state at The Ponds.

The video post quotes local Ray White Quakers Hill real estate agent Taylor Bredin as joining the chorus of support for the Zammits.

“The fact that most people sold out years and years ago, these guys have held on. All credit to them,” Bredin said

HOLDING THEIR GROUND

The surging Sydney property market of the last decade means offers to the Zammit family have grown exponentially over time.

According to PropTrack, home prices in Quakers Hill rose about 8.5 per cent through 2024, which would have earned the Zammits at least another $4.25m on top of previous offers.

Around a decade ago, the median home price in Quakers Hill hovered at around $700,000.

It is now $1.172m. A rise of more than two-thirds or 67 per cent.

Last year, one of the property’s owners, Diane Zammit, 50, told news.com.au, the neighbourhood used to be “farmland dotted with little red brick homes and cottages” where space was aplenty.

Reports indicate the Zammit family could have pocketed a staggering $60 million if they sold up. Picture: Channel 7

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“Every home was unique and there was so much space – but not any more. It’s just not the same,” she said.

The Zammit property boasts a lush green lawn in stark contrast to all the sites around it and also a huge 200m driveway.

But just metres away are rows and rows of carbon copy grey houses crammed into tight blocks as part of a major development.

The high-density neighbouring homes are built right up to the fence of the property, and neighbours reportedly don’t want the owners to sell as they like living in a cul-de-sac. It’s estimated 50 houses could fit on the block of land if they followed the same style as other developer homes in the area.