Colquhoun Glebe case: Grandmother, 78, jailed for fraud after she and her son claimed squatter’s rights over a $4million inner-city terrace
Margaret Colquhoun, 78, has been jailed after a New South Wales court convicted her of fraud over the attempted acquisition of a Glebe terrace through adverse-possession rules, often described as squatters’ rights. Her son Andrew was also convicted, while her solicitor husband Peter was acquitted, as the court found the prosecution had not proved his involvement beyond reasonable doubt.
The court found that Margaret and Andrew dishonestly claimed they had occupied the property from November 2000, a date significant because adverse possession generally requires 12 years of exclusive occupation. The derelict terrace had belonged to Ansis Neilands, who died in 1995, and was later sold in 2022 for about A$3.67 million; the case concerned an asset valued at roughly A$4 million.
In short
- Grandmother jailed over fraudulent Glebe property claim
- False occupation date underpinned squatters’ rights application
- Son convicted; solicitor husband acquitted
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The case underscores deep injustice in housing systems where unaffordable property markets force desperate people into extraordinary measures. An elderly woman's prosecution for attempted adverse possession—a legal mechanism designed for long-term occupiers—reflects how property law prioritises protecting absent owners and investors over people's fundamental need for housing security. Critics argue the jailing is disproportionate and invites scrutiny of whether law adequately balances property rights against housing crisis and human need.
The case against
Adverse possession law's clear requirements exist to provide certainty in property ownership; permitting false claims about meeting those requirements would fundamentally undermine the system. The rule of law requires consistent prosecution of fraud regardless of the defendant's age or sympathetic circumstances; making exceptions would render law arbitrary and unequal. Property rights are essential protections that benefit everyone, and misrepresenting occupation history to claim another's property must have real legal consequences.
Explained simply
Adverse possession is a legal rule that can, in some circumstances, allow someone who has occupied land for a long period to claim ownership. In New South Wales, the claim generally requires 12 years of exclusive occupation, so the date occupation began can be crucial.
The Glebe terrace belonged to Ansis Neilands, who died in 1995, and later became derelict. Margaret Colquhoun and her son Andrew sought to claim it under the rule; her husband Peter, a solicitor, was also involved in the case, though the court found the evidence did not prove his involvement in the alleged fraud.