The early history of Hensley Athletic Field is linked to the history of the Randwick-Botany Harriers Athletic Club. Founded in 1907, Botany Harriers successfully supported amateur athletics and distance events. It had members selected to represent Australia in the British Empire Games of 1938. Steady growth continued and then in 1959 the club amalgamated with another based in Randwick-Kensington.

In 1965 the new club secured a 21 year lease of land from Botany Council to construct a track and clubhouse. Sand extraction had occurred on the site and some land filling had also taken place. The first track of 7 lanes had a bitumen surface and was officially opened in October 1973. The track was subsequently resurfaced with a 3M urethane product called ‘Tartan’. Although rarely used for many years a feature of Hensley when first built was its 200 metre straight of 9 lanes, the only one in Australia.

In 1982 the Club advised Council that it was financially unable to perform the obligations imposed upon it by the lease, requested the lease be terminated and the care, management and control be assumed by
Council. Council agreed and also assumed liability for the Clubs existing debt to the 3m Company.

In 1968, Randwick-Botany Little Athletics Centre was formed to cater specifically for children in the under 6 to under 12 age groups. The Centre continues to use Hensley and has a current membership of 550.

Over more recent years the infield area, previously used for hockey, was redeveloped with a high quality turf surface irrigated by bore water sourced from the Botany Aquifer. The bores and pumps were owned by Qenos Limited, formally ICI. Flood lights were installed and the infield allocated and marked for soccer during the winter season. To maintain a playable surface the hours of use available for soccer were limited to approximately 20 hours each week. Training was not permitted.

As an old but purpose built facility the Hensley Athletic Field remained a popular venue, particularly for Little Athletics and for School, District, and Zone carnivals.

Then in 2010, the Hensley Task Force was formed and a redevelopment plan implemented to install what was only the second synthetic grass field in Sydney, as well as a new running track and upgraded spectator facilities. Hakoah FC have used the venue for their State League and subsequently NPL home fixtures for the last 5 years.

Dunbar Rovers FC, on entering the NSW State League competition for the first time in 2015, were successful in getting a season lease from City of Botany Bay, continue to play our home games at the venue and have a very good relationship with the Council. Indeed, Sydney FC played against local opposition in the Eastern Suburbs for the first time ever at this venue, when it took on Dunbar Rovers in September 2015 in a game to raise much-needed funds for former Dunbar Rovers coach Charlie Davidson, when one of the biggest attendances in the history of Hensley was recorded.

Hensley Athletic Field is named after Cecil “Chic” Hensley who was a prominent distance athlete of the 1940s and also an alderman and, later, Mayor of Botany.