Lake Alice water tower sold

SOLD: Its new owner has plans to turn the Lake Alice water tower into a home.

The water tower at Lake Alice may yet become a home following its recent sale.

Rob Bennett, a friend of the former owner who is currently overseas, said there was considerable interest in the tower when it was privately listed for sale recently.

"It had about 40,000 views on the website and lots and lots of interest," Mr Bennett said.

"He got quite a few offers and it sold for about $20,000 over the asking price [of $99,000]. I understand the new owner wants to turn it into a home."

In 2010 the Wanganui Chronicle reported that the rural Rangitikei tower had been bought by a couple who had long-term plans to convert it into a five-star eco-house.

The tower was built in 1945, using heavy steel reinforced concrete with a foundation of solid sandstone, to supply water to Lake Alice psychiatric hospital.

The tower is 23m high and the top once held 400 cubic metres of water. It has three large concrete rooms and, unusually for a water tower, there are windows around each of the three storeys. There are no stairs so the three floors are linked by ladders. The rooftop terrace provides views of Mts Ruapehu and Taranaki.