Dr Neil Benson outside the brothel he used to run with his wife, which is now on the market for $700,000. Photo / Chris Skelton
The Far North's controversial ex-medical-clinic-turned-brothel is up for sale.
Owners Dr Neil Benson and wife Helen have put the Coopers Beach property, formerly known as Whalers, on the market at $700,000.
An adjacent five-bedroom villa used as a live-in residence by Whalers sex workers - nicknamed "The Doll's
House" because of its cute appearance, not because of its former residents - is also on the market for the same amount.
Alternatively, interested parties can pick up both properties for $1.3 million.
Canadian GP Neil Benson made headlines last May when he opened Whalers.
Disgruntled that he had been forced to close his medical practice a month earlier after a long dispute with Te Tai Tokerau Primary Health Organisation over the provision of after-hours care, he turned the premises into a brothel, to the dismay of some locals.
Helen Benson told the Herald On Sunday that the couple had not intended to run the business themselves but had been left in that role after a "management" deal fell through. She was then put in charge of recruitment.
The brothel had a shaky start setting up in winter and also struggled to attract the "right" staff. Whalers closed in November, six months after opening.
The Canadian GP and his family are now living in Kerikeri and are selling four properties for a fresh start.
Mrs Benson said she and her husband were now investigating the possibility of setting up an orchard.
She said they had no regrets about their stint in the sex industry.
"It was an interesting project. The people that we met, the girls and the clients that came through, were really nice people."
But ultimately the business proved not to be right for them. "It took a lot of mentoring and a lot of people skills, but when you've got four teenagers and a husband who's working away most of the time [as a locum], it was just too much," said Mrs Benson. "I don't like late nights."
Real estate agent Wendy Philpott said the three-bedroom ex-brothel, refurbished to a high standard with themed rooms - Oriental, African and Garden Of Eden - and mirrors on the ceilings, could still be used as a brothel or would make excellent premises for doctors, lawyers, a childcare centre or a B&B.
