Ross and John listener lays claim to mysterious piece of land

Image: “My cousin is a dead-ringer,” Faye told Ross and John

RUMOUR CONFIRMED

A Ross and John listener has laid claim to part-ownership of a mysterious and lucrative piece of land next to Melbourne Airport.

The government wants to acquire the land to expand the airport, but it’s not clear from whom they need to buy it.

The mystery was first flagged on The Rumour File yesterday — Click PLAY below to listen — and it was today revealed the land was last registered to one of Melbourne’s founding fathers, John Pascoe Fawkner, more than 160 years ago.

Upon hearing the story, Melbourne woman Fay Philippe called Ross and John with a compelling case as to why her family could own part of the land.

She produced documents that show a woman called Elizabeth Lucas applied for a one-eleventh share of the land in 1908.

Elizabeth Lucas was Fawkner’s sister, and married Richard Lucas.

And Ms Philippe told Ross and John she is a descendant of Richard Lucas.

“My mother’s and aunty’s maiden names are Lucas.

“And my cousin (Denise, pictured above and below) is a dead-ringer of John Pascoe Fawkner.”

3AW has seen family tree documents.

Ross: And so, Faye, you’ll be sticking your hand up for a one-eleventh share of the money, will you?

Ms Philippe: Oh well, possibly, yes. There’s three of us left.

Legal expert Justin Laurence told Ross and John it can be a complicated process.

“If they go down the family chain and no one is alive, then it might be that the state of Victoria is the owner of the land,” he said.

Click PLAY for the full chat