In a last ditch attempt to halt the encroachment, Anambah House owners Jann and Maurizio Zappacosta have engaged a senior Sydney town planner to challenge the 80 lots proposed under the Anambah Urban Release Area.

“It’s obviously a forgone conclusion,” Mrs Zappacosta said. “We just wanted to maintain some of the rural amenity of the place.”

Maitland City Council planners rejected claims by the Zappacosta family that the development would adversely affect the heritage value of the 1889 home once the heart of a rich agricultural holding.

In a report to council, town planner Cindy Dickson has recommended the additional houses – up from 50 – in a draft amendment to the development control plan.

The plans were exhibited for 28 days until August 6, during which time council received the Zappacostas’ objections and a ­submission supporting the­ ­development control plan.

“The supporting submission encouraged the (lot size) amendment due to social and economic benefits as well as the provision of additional housing for a rapidly growing ­population,” Ms Dickson said.

The report going before council tomorrow night rejects key ­suggestions from the Zappacostas’ representative Ingham Planning.

The report states there is no ­conflict with prime rural land and that the site was rezoned for housing development in line with the Maitland Urban Settlement Strategy 2010.

“We’ve bought a rural property with prime Angus being raised here and now it’s all development,” Mrs Zappacosta said.

“For this sort of area the ­minimum should be 1200m2 but the planners would laugh at that. 

“Maitland is a semi rural place and it doesn’t need 450m2 lots.”

Since the Zappacostas settled the contracts on their Victorian home, worth $1.79 million, late last year they have since faced this ­development and a further 3000 homes on their western boundary in a proposal by Stockland.

“It was almost inevitable this was going to happen being so close to town,” Mrs Zappacosta, general manager of fashion label Wayne Cooper, said. “Our objection is the proposed density.  We will be gone in 20 years – we’re only caretakers – we want to preserve it as a piece of Maitland’s history.”

Anambah House was the setting for the film Country Life, starring Greta Scacchi and Sam Neill, in 1994.