“Mayfair” is an exclusive three-storey, block of seven, three-bedroom apartments at 6 McDonald Street, Potts Point.

It sits on the corner of Macleay and McDonald Streets and takes its name from one of London’s most fashionable areas on the eastern edge of London’s Hyde Park. Big-name stores such as Harrods are located nearby. Mayfair is one of the most fashionable, and expensive areas in the world and well known to Monopoly players, a popular board game based on London real estate.

Mayfair apartments were built in 1925 for one of the Hordern family, Mrs Hordern, wife of Cecil Hordern, and designed by architect, Mr Rutledge Louat. Cecil Hordern, born 1868, died in 1931 aged 63 and was a prominent stockbroker. He had married Mrs Hordern, previously Eva Laycock, in 1889 and lived at Ripley Lodge, Elamang Avenue, Kirribilli.

Cecil Hordern was the son of Edward (“Teddy”)  Hordern. Edward was a Sydney Council Alderman, now known as a Councillor, from 1879-1882 and was educated in Melbourne and London. He joined his brother Lebbeus in his George Street store in Sydney at age 22. From 1876, he was the sole proprietor of 668 George Street. In 1882 he took his sons Edward and Percy into partnership. He channelled profits from his business into Sydney property investments. In April 1876 he moved his family into Tor Cottage, now Jenner House, in Wylde Street, Potts Point, but sold it in 1877 and went back to his former home, Milton, at 215 Darlinghurst Road. He had many community interests and was on the on the Board of Sydney Hospital from 1880 to 1882.

The Hordern family, Australia’s richest retailing dynasty, came to prominence in Sydney as merchants and retailers with the establishment of Anthony Hordern & Sons, and then gained notability in rural pursuits, stockbreeding, stockbroking, fashion, cricket and parliament. The Hordern name is still seen in Sydney through the naming of the Hordern Pavilion, Hordern Towers within World Square and the Hordern Fountain in memory of Samuel Hordern in Pyrmont. There are reminders of their influence in Potts Point at 77 Victoria Street, an historic 1880s terrace connected to the original Hordern House estate, the Hordern Stairs nearby, Jenner House, built 1877and previously known as Stramshall and leased by Lebbeus Hordern. As wealthy merchants and graziers, members of the extended Hordern family owned and built many important, heritage homes in Sydney and the NSW Southern Highlands. Family homes often carried names such as “Retford” celebrating the Hordern family links to Retford in Nottinghamshire, England, and “Stramshall”, the birthplace of Anthony Hordern.

.Mr Louat, architect, built homes at 5 Bromley Avenue, Cremorne Point, flats at 11 Bradley’s Head Road, Mosman, and terraces at 238 Forbes Street, Darlinghurst and 50 Lower Fort Street, Dawes Point.

Mayfair is a company title building traditionally design with generous interiors and elegant, polished wooden entrance doors with bevelled glass and Italian Carrera marble floors.

Its name is embossed on both the cantilevered awning and the facade facing Macleay Street.

It is constructed of interesting, liver-coloured bricks, fashionable at the time but not seen since. At certain times of the day they change hue from dark blue to purple to magenta.

The City of Sydney Council archives still retains the original plans.

By Andrew Woodhouse

Heritage Solutions