The Majestic Private Hotel, 65 Kings Cross Road, 1924-1971

 

65 Kings Cross Road, built 1924.  Subsequently known as the Majestic Private Hotel.

On 26 Nov 1924, James R. Merriman, Acting City Building Supervisor, approved the plans for flats and motor garages at 65 Woolcott Street, Darlinghurst for Mrs O’Sullivan. The plans can be found in the City of Sydney archives online 

On the drawing of the Kings Cross Road frontage, but not mentioned elsewhere on the plans, is the name Mrytle [sic] Flats.

Close up of the plans Woolcott St (Kings Cross Rd) (65) (01/01/1924 - 31/12/1924), [A-00567374]. City of Sydney Archives, accessed 30 Jun 2023, https://archives.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/1436134

The plans provide for three x 2 bedroom flats and 1 x one bedroom flat per floor on three floors, motor garages in the basement and a laundry on the roof.  The architect was J. Murray Noone, A.I.A.

The drawings shows three floors on KX Road, but four were built, based on subsequent photos of the building.

The building was advertised in October 1925 as Rock Lodge, 65 Woolcott Street, Darlinghurst. Just completed!  Extract below from the SMH, 24 Oct 1925 under the heading RESIDENTIAL FLATS.

In the SMH 29 May 1929, Rock Lodge is advertised as for sale. "A modern block of 16 self-contained flats and garage."

Majestic Private Hotel

The first advertisement for the Majestic Hotel I can find appears in the SMH on 2 Feb 1931, advertising that "this beautiful building of about 60 rooms, 15 bathrooms is modern in every detail"  

The next photo below is undated (but I think it is 1950 – the same date as similar photos of KX Road).  It is looking east down KX Road.  The large structure on the roof with the sign doesn’t appear on the 1924 plans.  It could be for the electric lift referred to in the ad selling Rock Lodge in 1929. 

Below is a close up from a 1949 photo, viewed looking west up Kings Cross Road.  

Close up of a photo of the Waratah Hotel, 1949. Source:  Tooth and Company Limited yellow cards - city hotels archive https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/handle/1885/95960

Below is a close up from a 1970 photo, viewed looking west up Kings Cross Road.  Almost the only thing that has changed since 1949 is the cars! The Majestic Private Hotel signage is still there – and it was still operating.

Close up of a photo of the Waratah Hotel, 1970. Source:  Tooth and Company Limited yellow cards - city hotels archive,  https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/handle/1885/95960

An ad for weekly accommodation from the last days of the Majestic Private Hotel, SMH 21 Nov 1970: 

The entire contents of the 52 bedroom hotel is auctioned in December 1970, "due to the resumption of the premises" by the Department of Main Roads. 

The City of Sydney's planning card for the site says the Majestic was demolished on 2 February 1971.