The Hensley apartments, 37-41 Bayswater Road, was previously known as Hensley Hall and originally was a grand 1911 home named “Mercedes”. It was designed by architect, Barry Greig, and was later converted to a 36-room private hotel. It has since been extensively repurposed into apartments.

Apartment 502 is currently for sale through Geoff Cox, Jason Boon and Joss Reid https://www.rwebay.com.au/7738526/

During the 1930s the building was owned by widower, Benjamin Neville Mayman, formerly president of the Benevolent Society of New South Wales and a Sydney hotelier.  He was a flamboyant character.  He and his wife were once part of Sydney’s social set, receiving invites to all the events that mattered. “Mercedes” also hosted other events. It was mentioned in the ”From Day to Day in Sydney” social column in the Sydney Morning Herald in 1939 when 150 people attended to raise money for the Lord Mayor’s Bushfire Relief Appeal.

In 1936 Mr Mayman placed ads in the Sydney Morning Herald: “Established a quarter of a century. For better food, better service, and better and cleaner accommodation. Very moderate breakfast and terms for permanent or casual guests. Unfailing hot water, laundry facilities free. Inquiry and inspection invited. Neville Mayman, proprietor, Tele FL 2343.”

Its name and ownership changed in about 1940 to Hensley Hall. An advertisement in The Sydney Morning Herald of 1942 advises: “Kings Cross, Hensley Hall, 37 Bayswater Road – Attractive, furnished flats, community bathrooms, kitchenettes, accommodate one and two persons, rentals include clean linen, daily cleaning, electric light. Low rents. T. Elliott and Co, Tele FL 2721, Kings Cross.”

Author, Larry Writer, was born in Sydney in 1950. He is the author of a number of books including bestsellers including the award-winning “Razor” and “Pleasure and Pain”. He is an experienced journalist and has written for The Australian newspaper and the Australian Financial Review.

At the age of seven his parents split up and he and his mother stayed at his aunt’s apartment in Hensley Hall.  He recalled: “We stayed there six to eight months and I went to Darlinghurst Primary for a while. I remember people sitting around in their singlets and braces watching the horse racing on television.”

More recently, caretaker-in-residence, Barry Minihinnik, looked after the old building from 1992. He vividly recalls a conversation with the original owner who said it was re-named Hensley Hall because he anticipated a lot of old hens, or old maids, would live in it!

The building had a brush with fame when the Australian rock group, The Screaming Jets, posed for photos on the main staircase.

Today, this 112 year-old the building’s facade partly remains for locals to admire as an indication of the style and type of buildings once in the area.

By Andrew Woodhouse

Heritage Solutions.