Daughter sues mother over $30 million farm promised after mining executive's death

Sapphire Britt Halliday has alleged her mother, Deborah Lakshmi Halliday, promised her an interest in the family's 70-hectare farm near Macedon nearly two decades ago, after the death of her father, Paladin Resources executive Garnet Halliday. Mr Halliday died in a plane crash in Malawi, Africa, aged 50.

The court heard his estate included the farm and cattle-breeding business Waterford Charolais, valued at about $3 million at the time, along with $26 million in Paladin shares and a $1.6 million life insurance policy. His will left $50,000 to his son from a previous marriage, Kaden, with the rest going to his wife. Kaden later challenged the will and received a further payout.

Sapphire Halliday, then 18, claimed her mother promised she would receive an interest in the farm worth about $2 million if she did not make a similar claim, along with a 50 per cent share of the cattle. She told the court she abandoned plans to study agriculture and worked on the farm for below-award wages for more than a decade.

Text messages from May 2023 tendered to the court show Deborah Halliday telling her daughter, "I hoped to pay you out like I paid [Mr Halliday's son]" but saying "I just cannot pay you out at the moment." Sapphire Halliday also alleges her mother told her "the farm is mine."

Sapphire Halliday lodged a caveat over the farm on July 1, 2025, claiming an interest based on "estoppel," arguing it would be unfair for her mother to resile from a promise she relied on.

Deborah Halliday denies making the promise and argues parts of the alleged arrangement were legally non-binding. The court heard she is selling the farm to pay off mounting debts and downsize.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The case highlights the legal risks of informal family agreements, particularly around inheritance and property, where promises are made orally or by text message.
The outcome could determine whether Sapphire Halliday's decade of below-award-wage work on the farm translates into a legally enforceable interest.
The dispute is playing out as the property is being sold to cover debts, raising questions about how competing claims are resolved alongside creditors.

Background

Australian courts recognise "estoppel" as a doctrine that can prevent a person from going back on a promise if another party relied on it to their detriment. Family provision legislation also allows certain relatives to challenge wills. In this case, both ideas are in play: the daughter argues her mother's assurances led her to give up her right to challenge the will, while the mother argues any promise was not legally binding.

Key Perspectives

Sapphire Halliday: She claims she relied on her mother's assurances — giving up her university plans and a potential claim — and worked for years on the farm expecting a future interest, making it unfair for her mother to back out.

Deborah Halliday: She denies making the alleged promise and argues that even if parts were said, they were not legally enforceable. She has told the court she needs to sell the farm to repay debts and downsize.

Legal observers: The case turns on evidence of what was actually promised, whether the daughter's reliance was reasonable, and whether a court will treat the promise as binding given the family context.

What to Watch

Whether the court accepts the estoppel claim, particularly given the text messages tendered by the daughter.
The fate of the farm sale and how any payout would be funded if Sapphire Halliday's claim succeeds.
Whether the mounting debts against the property complicate or accelerate the court's timetable.

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