Hagerty v Hills Central Pty Ltd [2018] NSWCA 200

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Hagerty v Hills Central Pty Ltd [2018] NSWCA 200 Hearing dates: 31 August 2018 Decision date: 11 September 2018 Before: McColl JA at [1]; Macfarlan JA at [2]; Leeming JA at [3] Decision: 1. Appeal allowed.

2. Set aside the judgment and orders of the Court below dated 31 May 2018 and 18 July 2018.

3. Caveats AK6322973 and AM951778 be removed from the register held under the Real Property Act 1900 (NSW).

4. The respondent pay the appellants' costs at first instance and in this Court. Catchwords: REAL PROPERTY – option – whether option validly exercised – option deed required provision of contract for sale of land with time for completion 42 days thereafter – respondent purportedly exercised option – respondent's executed contract for sale left date of completion blank – respondent's covering letter requested appellants insert a completion date of 192 days from date of contract – consideration of applicable principles in such cases – proper construction of option deed – whether documents purporting to exercise option complied with option deed – option not validly exercised – appeal allowed Legislation Cited: Real Property Act 1900 (NSW) Cases Cited: Ballas v Theophilos [No 2] (1957) 98 CLR 193; [1957] HCA 90 Bell Bros Pty Ltd & Stewart v Sarich [1971] WAR 157 Boreland v Docker [2007] NSWCA 94; (2007) NSW ConvR 56-182 Bowman v Durham Holdings Pty Ltd (1973) 131 CLR 8; [1973] HCA 55 Carter v Hyde (1923) 33 CLR 115; [1923] HCA 36 Cavallari v Premier Refrigeration Co Pty Ltd (1952) 85 CLR 20; [1952] HCA 26 Comdox v Robins [2009] NSWSC 367 DTR Nominees Pty Ltd v Mona Homes Pty Ltd (1978) 138 CLR 423; [1978] HCA 12 Fatimi Pty Ltd v Bryant [2002] NSWSC 750 George v Cluning (1979) 28 ALR 57 Hills Central Pty Limited v Hagerty [2018] NSWSC 789 Hills Central Pty Limited v Hagerty (No 2) [2018] NSWSC 1109 Hinds v Randell (1961) 177 EG 733 Klewer v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (No 2) [2010] NSWCA 258 Mannai Investment Co Ltd v Eagle Star Life Assurance Co Ltd [1997] AC 749 Phillips Fox (a firm) v Westgold Resources NL [2000] WASCA 85 Prudential Assurance Co Ltd v Health Minders Pty Ltd (1987) 9 NSWLR 673 Quadling v Robinson (1976) 137 CLR 192; [1976] HCA 31 Tonitto v Bassal (1992) 28 NSWLR 564 Whitegum Petroleum Pty Ltd v Bernadini Pty Ltd [2010] WASCA 229 William Brandt's Sons & Co v Dunlop Rubber Co Ltd [1905] AC 454 Woodar Investment Development Ltd v Wimpey Construction UK Ltd [1980] 1 WLR 277 Texts Cited: None Category: Principal judgment Parties: Anthony Gerard Hagerty & Catherine Elizabeth Hagerty as Executors of the Estate of the late Gladys Delores Hagerty (Appellants) Hills Central Pty Ltd (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: