Semaphore water tower goes up for rent

One of Semaphore’s most recognisable landmarks is now available as a unique rental.

For $420 a week, you can enjoy open-plan living in the suburb’s iconic 1880-built heritage-listed water tower at 40 Blackler St, set right in the heart of one of the state’s most popular coastal hotspots.

According to the property’s realestate.com.au listing, the unique home can accommodate two to three bedrooms over its three levels, and has a solid timber kitchen with a breakfast bar, a large family bathroom, soaring ceilings, spacious rooms, a double garage and a flexible floorplan.

For safety reasons, it does not include access to the top two levels of the water tower.

Property Manager Oriella Cianci of Century 21 Beachside & Lakes said it was one of the more unique rental listings she’d had.

“It’s very well known down here – it’s a landmark property and this doesn’t come up often,” she said.

“They’re all open-plan floors – the ground floor is the living and kitchen area and then upstairs is another living area with a bathroom alongside, and the third floor is however tenants want to set it up really,” she said.

“There aren’t dedicated bedrooms, it’s all just floor space. There are no partitions or anything.

“That hasn’t limited its appeal, because the tenants that are keen on it are quite unique too, and quite creative and have a vision in their head as to how they want to set it up.”

The listing went live on Friday and Ms Cianci said thus far interest had been strong.

“If it was to lease it to anyone and everyone it would be leased quite quickly but we need to be quite particular about who we put in there so it will take a bit longer than your standard rental,” she said.

“It will take a certain selection of tenants that would desire to live in something like this – it’s not for all.”

The Advertiser reported in January the historic water tower would have a facelift and an attached 1970s building would be removed as part of a proposed tourism development.

Six low-level tourist accommodation units were proposed for the space behind the tower, as well as the removal of the red brick building in front of it.

Later, in March, The Advertiser reported these plans had been temporarily placed on ice as neighbours hit back with a petition against the development.

Century 21 Beachside & Lakes principal Rosalie Grickage said for that reason they were only seeking a shorter-term lease.

“Eventually the building will go through a metamorphosis of renovation, hence we’re only accepting six-month applications at the moment and we’re quite particular about the profile of a tenant that goes in the simply because of the complexity of the levels and the stairs,” she said.

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Semaphore water tower goes up for rent