Westfield Management Ltd v Perpetual Trustee Co Ltd [2006] NSWSC 716

Reported Decision : (2006) NSW ConvR 56-163

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Westfield Management Ltd v Perpetual Trustee Co Ltd [2006] NSWSC 716 This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

HEARING DATE(S) : 8/06/06 - 9/06/06

JUDGMENT DATE : 17 July 2006

JURISDICTION : Equity Division

JUDGMENT OF : Brereton J

DECISION : Declaration that right of way extends to permit dominant owner to authorise persons to use right of way to access dominant tenement and then proceed to remoter properties

CATCHWORDS : EASEMENTS – rights of carriageway – construction – admissibility of evidence of surrounding circumstances – whether grant of right of way appurtenant to lot A extends to permit dominant owner to authorise persons to use right of way to access dominant tenement and then proceed to remoter adjacent properties of dominant owner (lot B) – rule in Harris v Flower – right of way "for all purposes" – where parties to grant contemplated that dominant tenement would be a means of access to remoter properties.

LEGISLATION CITED : Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), s 181A(1) and Sch 8 Pt 1

Alamdo Holdings Pty Limited v Australia Window Furnishings (NSW) Pty Limited [2004] NSWSC 487 Alvis v Harrison (1991) 62 P&CR 10 British Railway Board v Glass [1965] Ch 538 Cannon v Villars (1878) 8 Ch D 415, 420 Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority (NSW) (1982) 149 CLR 337 Ferella v Otvosi (2005) 64 NSWLR 101 Finlayson v Campbell (1997) 8 BPR 15 Gallagher v Rainbow (1994) 179 CLR 624 Harris v Flower (1904) 74 LJCh 127 Jelbert v Davis [1968] 1 WLR 589 Kyren Pty Ltd v Cinema Place Pty Ltd [2006] SASC 93 Maggbury Pty Ltd v Hafele Australia Pty Ltd (2002) 210 CLR 181 Nickerson v Barraclough [1980] Ch 325 Owners Corp, Strata Plan No. 8450 v Owners Corp, Strata Plan No. 54547 [2002] NSWSC 780 Paterson & Barr Limited v University of Otago [1925] NZLR 191 Peacock v Custins [2001] 2 All ER 827 CASES CITED : Proprietors Strata Plan No. 9968 v Proprietors Strata Plan No. 11173 [1979] 2 NSWLR 605 Re Attorney General for the Australian Capital Territory (1990) 26 FCR 82 Re Ellenborough Park [1956] Ch 131 Rodwell v G R Evans & Co Pty Ltd (1977) 3 BPR 9114 Ryde Municipal Council v Macquarie University (1978) 139 CLR 633 Scott v Martin [1987] 1 WLR 841 Shean Pty Ltd v Owners of Corinne Court [2001] WASCA 311 Simpson v Mayor of Godmanchester [1897] AC 696 Skull v Glenister 33 LJCP 185; 16 CB (NS) 81 South Eastern Railway Co v Cooper [1924] 1 Ch 211 SS & M Ceramics v Kin [1996] 2 QdR 540 Strata Plan No 8450 [2002] NSWSC 780 The Shannon Limited v Venner Limited [1965] Ch 682 Toll (FGCT) Pty Limited v Alphapharm Pty Limited (2004) 219 CLR 165 Waterpark v Fennell (1859) 7 HLC 650 White v Grand Hotel Eastbourne Limited [1913] 1 Ch 113 Williams v James (1867) LR 2 CP 577