A Sans Pareil office that used to be located in the Griffith industrial area. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
The Australian Tax Office (ATO) is still owed more than $30 million by a Griffith winery that collapsed in 2022, according to a report sent to creditors this week.
Hanwood-based Sans Pareil Estate Pty Ltd launched in 2018 before going into liquidation four years later. Insolvency expert Gavin Moss from Chiefly Advisory was appointed to handle the company’s affairs.
The collapse has been the subject of court proceedings, but Mr Moss’s latest report provides a long-awaited update for many Riverina businesses still waiting to recover money they are owed.
The liquidator said he was now working out how much money could be paid back to unsecured creditors – businesses and organisations owed money that do not hold security over the company’s assets.
In total, unsecured creditors are owed more than $31 million. The vast majority of this is owed to the ATO, which is seeking $30,799,203.50.
“At this stage, I anticipate there are sufficient funds to enable a first and final dividend to ordinary unsecured creditors of the company,” Mr Moss said in his report.
A dividend is a payment made to creditors from money recovered during the liquidation process.
An annual update report provided by the liquidator in December 2025 revealed that just $2.8 million of the more than $30 million owed had been recovered in just over three years since the company’s collapse. It is therefore likely the 43 unsecured creditors will only receive a small percentage of what they are owed.
The liquidator and his staff have so far been paid about $720,000 for their work handling the collapse of Sans Pareil Estate.
Mr Moss is now seeking approval for a further $120,746 in fees, which would bring the total cost of the liquidation to about $842,000.
Creditors have until 5 June to submit proof they are owed money if they want to be considered for a payment. The dividend is expected to be paid by 30 June.
“If unsecured creditors do not complete the attached form and return same to me by 6 June 2026, they will be excluded from the benefit of any distribution made,” Mr Moss wrote.
Secured creditors – those with legal claims over company assets – are expected to still be owed about $456,000. Westpac’s and NAB’s claims make up most of that amount.
“A dividend to former employees has been paid and employee entitlements have been paid in full,” Mr Moss said.
