The four-storey building will require some significant work, including asbestos removal and earthquake strengthening. Photo / Supplied
The four-storey building will require some significant work, including asbestos removal and earthquake strengthening. Photo / Supplied
Wellington's old air traffic control tower, affectionately known as "Arnold", has sold.
The building is thought to be the only air traffic control tower in the world to have a residential address and its own letterbox.
Opened in 1959, the old tower was home to Airways air traffic controllers managingflights in and out of Wellington Airport for 60 years. The new control tower was opened further down Tirangi Rd in 2018.
Tommy's Real Estate agent Billy Bell announced the building had sold on his Facebook page.
"A huge couple of weeks with over 100,000 views across the globe but it's now time for this iconic landmark to change hands. So, what is next for "Arnold"? only time will tell ...", he wrote.
The tower boasts views from Evans Bay to Lyall Bay. Photo / Supplied
The tower still has many of its original 1957 design features, but the kitchenette is described as "circa 2000s chic".
It also comes with a list of renovation needs, including asbestos removal and earthquake strengthening.
But the sellers, Airways, said the views from the top floor were "phenomenal", stretching from Evans Bay to Lyall Bay and beyond. There's also nearly a quarter acre of land.
Tommy's Real Estate sales director Nicki Cruickshank said there were six offers made on the property.
Some were very keen on planes, others wanted to run an Airbnb, and some wanted to turn the tower into a home, Cruickshank said.
The tower sold for about 20 per cent more than expected, she said.
It was originally thought the property would go for between $800,000 and $1 million.
"It was difficult to price something like that because it's not something you sell every day", Cruickshank said.
"It was really popular- we had nearly 100,000 looks on the website, so we knew it was popular, and we had a lot of people through. There are a lot of people who love planes out there clearly."
Tommy's Real Estate will donate the commission on the sale to the new Wellington Regional Children's Hospital for the purchase of equipment.
