Watt v Lord & Anor [2005] NSWSC 53

Reported Decision : 62 NSWLR 495 (2006) NSW ConvR 56-134

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Watt v Lord & Anor [2005] NSWSC 53

HEARING DATE(S) : 31/01/05, 01/02/05

JUDGMENT DATE : 18 February 2005

JUDGMENT OF : Gzell J

DECISION : Claim by successor in title to vendors that transfer no longer effective for registration dismissed.

CATCHWORDS : CONVEYANCING - Land Titles under the Torrens System - Transfers - Transfer and certificate of title handed to purchaser - Purchaser goes into occupation - Registration of transfer not sought for 43 years - Vendors and successors in title dead - Whether transfer can be registered - Whether purchaser guilty of unconscionable conduct - Whether purchaser guilty of laches - Whether relief barred by Limitation Act 1969

Real Property Act 1900 Limitation Act 1969 Transfer of Land Act 1915 (Vic) Bills of Sale Act 1891 (Qld) LEGISLATION CITED : Real Property Act of 1877 (Qld) Conveyancing Act 1919 Real Property Act of 1861 (Qld) Real Estate (Limitation of Actions) Act, 1833 (Imp)

J A Westaway & Son Pty Ltd v Registrar-General (1996) 7 BPR 14,773 McVey v Denis (1984) 55 ALR 201 Davis v Willaims [2003] NSWCA 371 Tierney v Halfpenny (1883) 9 VLR (Eq) 152 National Trustees, Executors and Agency Co of Australasia Ltd v Boyd (1926) 39 CLR 72 Barry v Heider (1914) 19 CLR 197 Brunker v Perpetual Trustee Co (Ltd) (1937) 57 CLR 555 Anning v Anning (1907) 4 CLR 1049 Currey v Federal Building Society (1929) 42 CLR 421 O'Regan v Commissioner of Stamp Duties (1921) St R Qd 283 Breskvar v Wall (1971) 126 CLR 376 Cope v Keene (1968) 118 CLR 1 Corin v Patton (1989-1990) 169 CLR 540 In re Skinner (1894) 6 QLJ 68 Finucane v Registrar of Titles (1902) St R Qd 75 Wainewright v Elwell (1816) 1 Madd 627 (56 ER 231) CASES CITED : Macedo v Stroud [1922] 2 AC 330 Blomley v Ryan (1956) 99 CLR 362 Real Estate (Limitation of Actions) Act, 1833 (8 Wm IV, No 3 & 4) Re The Australian Deposit and Mortgage Bank Ltd (1907) VLR 348 Peacocke & Peacocke v Auckland District Land Registrar (1901) 20 NZLR 81 Campbell v District Land Registrar, Auckland (1909) 28 NZLR Lindsay Petroleum Co v Hurd (1874) LR 5 PC 221 Hart v O'Connor [1985] 1 AC 1000 West v Read (1913) 13 SR (NSW) 575 Hogg, The Australian Torrens System, William Clowes & Sons Ltd, London, 1905 Francis, The Law and Practice Relating to Torrens Title in Australasia, Butterworths, Sydney, 1972 Baalman The Torrens System in New South Wales, 2nd ed, Law Book Co, Sydney, 1974 Whalan, The Torrens System in Australia, Law Book Co, 1982 Kerr, The Principles of the Australian Land Titles (Torrens) System, Law Book Co, Sydney, 1927 Francis, The Law and Practice Relating to Torrens Title in Australasia, Butterworths, Sydney, 1972