Fairfield Pastoral Holdings Pty Ltd v Ridge Estate Pty Ltd (No 3) [2021] FCA 292

Federal Court of Australia

Fairfield Pastoral Holdings Pty Ltd v Ridge Estate Pty Ltd (No 3) [2021] FCA 292 File number: SAD 312 of 2018

Judgment of: WHITE J

Date of judgment: 26 March 2021

Catchwords: TRUST AND TRUSTEE – application for judicial sale of real property in equity or alternatively under s 59B of the Trustee Act 1936 (SA) – whether the Court has the power to authorise a bare trustee to deal with trust assets – whether an order for judicial sale would be expedient for the management or administration of the property – application under s 59B upheld. PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – application for judgment by default under r 5.23 of the Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) – failure to make discovery in accordance with Court orders and r 20.14 – application upheld in part.

Legislation: Australian Consumer Law s 236 Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) Sch 2 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) s 556 Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) rr 5.22, 5.23, 20.14 Law of Property Act 1936 (SA) s 86 Trustee Act 1925 (NSW) s 81 Trustee Act 1936 (SA) s 59B Trusts Act 1973 (Qld) s 94(1)

Cases cited: ACOHS Pty Ltd v Ucorp Pty Ltd [2009] FCA 577 Akibou Yacouba v Eurocars (Wholesale) Pty Ltd [2020] FCA 317 Amirbeaggi, in the matter of Simpkiss Pty Ltd (in liq) [2018] FCA 2121 Apostolou v VA Corporation of Australia Pty Ltd [2011] FCAFC 103 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Dataline.Net.Au Pty Ltd [2006] FCA 1427; (2006) 235 ALR 665 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Dataline.Net.Au Pty Ltd [2007] FCAFC 146; (2007) 161 FCR 513 Black & Decker (Australasia) Pty Ltd v GMCA Pty Ltd [2007] FCA 1623 Carter Holt Harvey Woodproducts Australia Pty Ltd v The Commonwealth of Australia [2019] HCA 20; (2019) 368 ALR 390 Caterpillar Financial Australia Limited v Ovens Nominees Pty Ltd [2011] FCA 677 Chamberlain Group Inc v Giant Alarm System Co Ltd [2019] FCA 1606 Chateau Constructions (Aust) Ltd v Zepinic (No 5) [2010] NSWSC 265 Derrimut Health & Fitness Pty Ltd v Revival 24:7 Gym Pty Ltd (No 2) [2020] FCA 1581 Fairfield Pastoral Holdings Pty Ltd v Ridge Estate Pty Ltd (No 2) [2020] FCA 312 Green v Schneller [2002] NSWSC 671 Herdegen v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1988) 84 ALR 271 Jones (liquidator) v Matrix Partners Pty Ltd, in the matter of Killarnee Civil and Concrete Contractors Pty Ltd (in liq) [2018] FCAFC 40; (2018) 260 FCR 310 King Investment Solutions Pty Ltd v Hussain [2005] NSWSC 1076; (2005) 64 NSWLR 441 Lenijamar Pty Ltd v AGC (Advances) Ltd (1990) 27 FCR 388 Pleash, in the matter of Sun Coast Restoration Pty Ltd [2013] FCA 355; (2013) 211 FCR 203 Professional Administration Service Centres Pty Limited v Commissioner of Taxation [2012] FCAFC 180; (2012) 295 ALR 52 Re Dion Investments Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 367; (2014) 87 NSWLR 753 Riddle v Riddle [1952] HCA 12; (1952) 85 CLR 202