Windsor Knight in Subi building dispute

Cygnet Bay pearl farmers have sued Windsor Knight for almost $2 million, in a legal dispute over office tenancies in a Subiaco shopping centre.

Atalanta Investments and Seafocus Holdings lodged a writ in the Supreme Court of Western Australia, naming Windsor Knight as the defendant.

In the writ obtained by Business News, the plaintiffs claimed $1.89 million from Windsor Knight and alleged the property developer was unlicensed when it oversaw Atalanta and Seafocus’ tenancies in a Subiaco building.

The multi-storey building at the centre of the dispute is an $80 million retail complex that houses Coles and Target, on the lot bound by Hood and Station streets and formerly the site of Subiaco Station Street markets.

Australian Securities and Investments Commission data shows Atalanta and Seafocus were owned by Broome couple Alison and Bruce Brown, who established Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm.

The Browns alleged, in the writ, that Windsor Knight collected rent, paid expenses and managed the Subiaco office tenancies as per an agreement the parties signed in 2015 and modified in 2018.

Atalanta and Seafocus claimed they paid about $1.89 million for Windsor Knight's services between 2015 to mid-2023.

But in the writ, Atalanta and Seafocus alleged Windsor Knight was not licensed as a real estate agent and did not hold a valid appointment to be the agent for them.

In the writ, Atalanta and Seafocus claim $1.89 million, interest on the fees at a rate of 6 per cent a year, and associated costs.

Windsor Knight was started by former City of Fremantle chief executive and ex-Holmes a Court executive Greg Pearce in 1989.

Mr Pearce declined to comment on the legal action.