Auburn: Incredible story of the suburban Sydney home that's been cut in half by a six-storey apartment building - and the defiant owner's ultimatum to property developers

An elderly man has taken a defiant stand against a property developer building a six storey apartment complex where the other half of his duplex used to be.

The man, David - who only speaks Cantonese - has lived in a fibro three-bedroom home on Park Road, Auburn, in Sydney's west, since 2004 when he purchased it for $330,000.

The other half of the duplex went up in flames in 2017, was demolished in 2018 and was purchased in 2020 by AB Developers. 

The developers approached David to snap up his side of the duplex - but he was not for turning. 

Daily Mail Australia has been told David was offered $600,000 for his half of the home.  But he held firm, insisting he would not leave for a cent less than a million dollars.

The stand-off has now left the semi split in half.

Meanwhile, all work on the 32-apartment complex next door has been indefinitely delayed due to a stop work order enforced by NSW's Building Commission on December 21.

The construction site has been left deserted with chairs, scaffolding and fencing left to the elements while workers are kept from the site. 

The NSW Building Commission found the developers failed to submit critical fire protection, structural and architectural documents on time. 

'Designs for the building at the development do not contain the necessary details to produce building work that would achieve compliance,' the order said.

'I am of the opinion that engaging and continuing in the works... could significantly impact the actual performance of those building elements.

'And thereby could result in significant harm or loss to the occupiers or potential occupiers at the development.'

AB Developments accepted the finding and indicated they will update their plans before resubmitting to have the order lifted.

Meanwhile, David's humble home stands just metres away - dwarfed by the unfinished building - against an open space that once held its mirrored half. 

The unique half-home recently caught the eye of a passer-by, who snapped a photo which has since gone viral.

'Good on them for standing strong, even though it's half a house,' one local wrote.

'They'll be able to add windows on that side of the house and get more light and cross flow air ventilation,' a second wrote.

'Sometimes people want to live in a simple home that is full of memories... instead of living in a square box with no love or warmth about it,' a third wrote.

Others said David was going to have to deal with years of construction while the value of his home deteriorated.

'Now they can enjoy people peering into their yard and house from every angle, and put up with a street full of cars,' one dissenter wrote.

'Probably could have done a sweet deal instead of clinging on to aging fibro and smelly plywood,' another wrote. 

Daily Mail Australia approached David at the home but he declined to comment. 

One of the most famous instances of an Australian defying developers was Melbourne's famous 'Miss Stayput'.

Mary Ann Campigli defiantly watched on as a number of the homes surrounding her East Melbourne home were bought up to make way for a supermarket car park.

No amount of money or smooth-talking men in suits could convince Ms Campigli to pack up her things and leave her five-room house.

The developers just kept building the carpark around her Camberwell home until it eventually surrounded the entire property.

Her determination made her a hero among many in the community with tabloid newspapers lining up to tell her strange story and find out what was motivating her.

'I'm going to fight for my home,' Miss Campigli told the Herald Sun at the time.

'It's all I've got and all I want, and I'm happy here. I won't be kicked around.' 

David would agree.

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