State Transit Authority of NSW v Australian Jockey Club [2003] NSWSC 726

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : State Transit Authority of NSW v Australian Jockey Club [2003] NSWSC 726 HEARING DATE(S) : 31/07/03 JUDGMENT DATE : 8 August 2003 JURISDICTION: Equity Division JUDGMENT OF : Young CJ in Eq DECISION : Three of the four caveats are to be removed forthwith: the fourth on 11 September 2003. The cross claim for right of way fails, but that for a sewerage easement succeeds. Generally, the plaintiff is entitled to succeed that it has the right to sell an unencumbered title to the second cross defendant.

CATCHWORDS : CONTRACTS [2]- Tender- Whether process contract- Whether obligation to treat all tenderers equally. CONVEYANCING [158]- Torrens system- Easements- Whether prescriptive easement may exist if no change in registered proprietor for whole period. REAL PROPERTY [413]- Easements- Right of way- 20 years use- Torrens system land- Land owned by Crown- Although user established, no easement existed. Conveyancing Act 1919, s 178 LEGISLATION CITED : Fair Trading Act 1987, s 3 Transport Administration Act 1988, s 22 Albon v Dremsall (1610) 1 Brownlow 216; 123 ER 763 Australian Hi-Fi Publications Pty Ltd v Gehl [1979] 2 NSWLR 618 Bahr v Nicolay (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 604 Barba v Gas & Fuel Corporation of Victoria (1976) 136 CLR 120 Corrections Corporation of Australia Pty Ltd v Commonwealth of Australia (2000) 104 FCR 448 Dobbie v Davidson (1991) 21 NSWLR 625 Evans Deakin Pty Ltd v Sebel Furniture Ltd [2003] FCA 71 Frazer v Walker [1967] 1 AC 569 Golding v Tanner (1991) 56 SASR 482 Hamilton v Joyce [1984] 3 NSWLR 279 Hughes Aircraft Systems International v Air Services Australia (1997) 76 FCR 151 J S McMillan Pty Ld v Commonwealth (1997) 77 FCR 337 Jobson v Nankervis (1943) 44 SR (NSW) 277 CASES CITED : Kostis v Devitt (1979) 1 BPR 9231 Maurice Toltz Pty Ltd v Macy's Emporium Pty Ltd [1970] 1 NSWR 474 McKenzie v Waimumu Queen Gold-Dredging Co Ltd (1901) 21 NZLR 231 NT Power Generation Pty Ltd v Power & Water Authority (2001) 184 ALR 481 Pearch v Gyucha (1953) 71 WN (NSW) 123 Pekel v Humich (1999) 21 WAR 24 Pratt Contractors Ltd v Palmerstone North City Council [1995] 1 NZLR 469 Pugh v Savage [1970] 2 QB 373 South Eastern Railway Co v Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers (1900) Ltd [1910] 1 Ch 12 Talga Investments Pty Ltd v Tweed Canal Estates Pty Ltd (1974) 1 BPR 9675 Transit New Zealand v Pratt Contractors Ltd [2002] 2 NZLR 313 Turner v Walsh (1880) 1 LR (NSW) 83; (1881) 6 App Cas 636 (PC)) United Starr-Bowkett Co-operative Building Society (No 11) Ltd v Clyne (1967) 68 SR (NSW) 331 Wimbledon & Putney Commons Conservators v Dixon (1875) 1 Ch D 362 State Transit Authority of New South Wales (P) PARTIES : Australian Jockey Club (D1) Treve Williams (D2) Anson City Developments 1 (Australia) Pty Limited (2nd cross defendant) FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 3409/03 B A Coles QC and L J Aitken (P) COUNSEL : J Sackar QC and R McHugh (D2) I M Khan (2nd cross defendant) Abbott Tout (P) SOLICITORS : Mallesons Stephen Jaques (D2) Allens Arthur Robinson (2nd cross defendant)