Berrell v Combined Pastoral Pty Limited [2015] NSWSC 1334

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Berrell v Combined Pastoral Pty Limited [2015] NSWSC 1334 Hearing dates: 2 September 2015 Date of orders: 11 September 2015 Decision date: 11 September 2015 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Lindsay J Decision: A contract for the sale of land was validly terminated by the vendors, and they are entitled to orders providing for forfeiture of the purchaser's deposit and withdrawal of the purchaser's caveat. Catchwords: CONVEYANCING – Breach of contract for sale and remedies – Entitlement to deposit – Forfeiture to vendor – Termination of contract – Obligation of vendor to give vacant possession – Nature of vacant possession Legislation Cited: Conveyancing Act, 1919 NSW, section 55(2A) Cases Cited: Austral Standard Cables Pty Limited v Walker Nominees Pty Limited (1992) 26 NSWLR 524 at 532B Warringah Contractors Pty Limited v Pike (1981) NSW Conv R 55-036 at 56,240; (1982) ANZ Conv R 304 at 309 Cumberland Consolidated Holdings Ltd v Ireland [1946) KB 264 at 268-269, 270-271 Hynes v Vaughan (1985) 50 P & CR 444 at 455-456 Ibrend Estates BV v NYK Logistics (UK) Ltd [2011] EWCA Civ 683; [2011] 4 All ER 539; [2011] 2 P&CR 9 at [37]-[42]) King v Poggioli (1923) 32 CLR 222 Korogluyan v Matheou (1975) 30 P & CR 309 at 312-313 and 316 McNally v Waitzer [1981] 1 NSWLR 294 at 303E-304D Point Glebe Pty Limited v Lidofind Pty Limited (1988) NSW Conv R 55-412 Smilie Pty Limited v Bruce (1998) 9 BPR [97750] at 16,725; (1999) ANZ Conv R 412 at 414 Tanwar Enterprises Pty Limited v Cauchi (2003) 217 CLR 315 at [47], [53] and [57]. Toll (FGCT) Pty Limited v Alphapharm Pty Limited (2004) 219 CLR 165 at 179[40] Topfell Limited v Galley Properties Limited [1979] 1 WLR 446 at 449E Waterhouse v Waugh [2003] NSWCA 139 at [50]-[52] Texts Cited: PJ Butt, The Standard Contract for Sale of Land in NSW (Law Book Co, Sydney, 1985) D Skapinker and P Lane, Sale of Land in NSW: Commentary and Materials (Law Book Co, Sydney, 5th ed, 2010) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Plaintiffs: Phillip John Berrell and Debbie Lynn Berrell First Defendant: Combined Pastoral Pty Ltd; Second Defendant: Unlimited Property Solutions Pty Ltd t/as Harcourts Unlimited Real Estate Representation: Counsel: Plaintiffs: T Flaherty First Defendant: L Andelman