Fernance v Simpson [2003] NSWSC 121

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Fernance v Simpson [2003] NSWSC 121 HEARING DATE(S) : 17 and 18 December 2002, 12, 13 February 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 5 March 2003 JURISDICTION: Equity Division JUDGMENT OF : Windeyer J at 1 DECISION : Declarations as to entitlement to rights of way

CATCHWORDS : REAL PROPERTY - easements - easement by prescription - lost modern grant - 20 years uninterrupted use - ownership in estate of person who died in 1885 - capacity to grant an easement - acquiescence - requirement of knowledge - whether constructive knowledge sufficient - onus of proof Local Government Act 1993, s,700, s710, s713, s715 LEGISLATION CITED : Probate Act 1890 Real Property Act 1900, s14A Wills Probate and Administration Act 1898, s45, s61 Bridle v Ruby [1989] 1 QB 169 Dalton v Angus (1881) 6 App Cas 740 Delohery v Permanent Trustee Company of New South Wales (1904) 1 CLR 283 Diment v N.H. Foot Ltd [1974] 1 WLR 1427 Gangemi v Watson (1994) 7 WAR 505 Hamilton v Joyce [1984] 3 NSWLR 279 Palk v Shinner (1852) 18 QB 568 CASES CITED : Pugh v Savage [1970] 2 QB 373 Tehidy Minerals Limited v Norman [1971] QB 552 Union Lighterage Co v London Graving Dock Co [1902] 2 Ch 557 Cheshire & Burns Modern Law of Property 15th Ed p543 Conveyancer and Property Lawyer Vol 50 p356; Vol 53 p261 Gale on Easements 16th Ed para 4-79 et seq Jackson on The Law of Easements and Profits p113 Megarry & Wade, The Law of Real Property, 3rd Ed 1966 at 837; 6th Ed p1118 Robert John Fernance and Christine Fernance (First Plaintiffs) Hugh Gordon Randall and Anne Randall (Second Plaintiffs) PARTIES : Kristine Robin Hansen (Third Plaintiff) Damien James Simpson and Robyn Anne Simpson (First Defendants) McKenzie Holdings Pty Ltd (Second Defendant) Registrar-General of New South Wales (Third Defendant) FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 2135 of 2001 Mr P Brereton SC with him Mr R J Brender (Plaintiffs) COUNSEL : Mrs S Foda (First Defendants) Mr R J Powell (Second Defendant) Submitting appearance (Third Defendant) Trisley Kilmurray (Plaintiffs) SOLICITORS : C N Ingham & Associates (First Defendants) McDonald Johnson (Second Defendant) K C Hall (Third Defendant)