A New South Wales council has clarified that a small block of land in Wilcannia does not in fact belong to King Charles III.
Central Darling Shire Council this week revealed a list of 35 properties that had overdue rates in the local government area.
Any properties that still have rates owing by May 4 will be offered for sale at a public auction by a Broken Hill-based real estate agent.
One peculiar inclusion, however, was a block of land at 66 Woore Street, housing a small building and apparently owned by the King, owing more than $15,000 in rates.
The list resulted in many people scratching their heads, wondering if the King did indeed own the block and chuckling over whether he would pay his rates in time.
Ownership mystery solved
When contacted by the ABC, the council clarified the property was previously owned by Wilcannia Arts Incorporated, but the association's registration was involuntarily cancelled in 2017.
"At that time, the property of the association vested in the secretary (being the commissioner for Fair Trading) under section 77 of the Associations Incorporation Act 2009," a council spokesperson said in a statement.
"The commissioner does not hold the title in her personal interest or in the interest of the crown.
"Effectively, the property is in the King's name to reflect that it is now vested in the secretary under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009."
The council also clarified that under the Local Government Act 1993, the crown is exempt from council rates unless leased for private purposes.
This means that even if the owner was indeed the King, he would not owe the council rates unless it happened to be his home away from home when not dealing with affairs of the crown.
The spokesperson said the council had written to all owners listed for overdue rates and, where possible, made direct verbal contact with the owners of properties listed in the sale.
"In this instance, Fair Trading has acknowledged council's proposal to sell the land for unpaid rates," they said.
