A quirk in Queensland's title deeds system means a former Brisbane alderman, property developer and auctioneer who died 116 years ago remains the owner of a block of land in Mary Street being resumed for a new underground train station in Brisbane.

John Cameron's property in "Esk Lane" off Mary Street has never been passed to his relatives, and under early title deed arrangements, the dead developer remains owner.

John Cameron (standing, far left) and family with friends at Doobawah, circa 1888. Credit:State Library of Queensland

The underground rail station will be the Albert Street train station and will be part of south-east Queensland’s $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project.

Cameron, who designed and laid out Brisbane’s first fully-planned residential estate outside the central city in 1898, is considered the father of the suburban residential house block in Queensland.