Ben Ali poses for a picture in the Semaphore Water Tower in Semaphore. The landmark property will go to auction on November 11. (AAP Image/MATT LOXTON)

SEMAPHORE’S landmark water tower — complete with 360 degree views of the coast and city — is up for sale.

Owner Ben Ali, said his late grandparents, Manfred and Beverly Stibr, bought the tower, at 40 Blackler St, as a “weekend residence” in 1973.

But they loved the property and beach lifestyle so much that they made the move permanent a few years later.

The Semaphore water tower will be sold for the first time in 43 years after being purchased by Czech migrants, Manfred and Beverly Stibr as a ‘weekend residence in 1974.

The seven-level home includes three large bedrooms, one bathroom, two separate self-contained units, and has scope to add extra rooms.

“My family attributes (my grandparents’) longevity and excellent health to the beach lifestyle and climbing those tower stairs well into their eighties,” Mr Ali said.

“Sunday lunches with the family were held in the tower for decades.

“Christmas and Easter celebrations were outstanding because the tower brought with it a true sense of occasion and grandeur, matched by my grandfather’s brilliant cooking.

The home’s impressive dining room.

“I remember barbecues and large parties in the backyard, early morning swims at the beach and city fireworks viewed from the top of the tower.

“Sometimes birthdays were held as slumber parties, and we would use one of the adjoining flats to accommodate my friends.

“Best of all was taking them up the tower and witnessing their jaw-dropping reaction from the lookout.”

Manfred and Beverly were both born on February 21, 1927, and artwork throughout the water tower tells their intriguing life story.

Views from the staircase across the combined dining and kitchen area.

“My grandfather was originally from Czechoslovakia and established an early career as a primary school teacher,” Mr Ali said.

Manfred migrated to Australia in his early twenties, settling in Adelaide after falling in love with Beverly.

“He arrived with little more than a suitcase full of cigarettes won playing cards on the ship to Australia,” Mr Ali said.

“He had a keen interest in history and a prodigious talent for cooking, music, and, as we later discovered, painting.

“During retirement he created a stunning mural of his life story, which can be seen on the top floor of the tower.”

One of three bedrooms.

Nick Psarros, of Ray White Port Adelaide, is handling the sale of the water tower, ahead of an auction next month.

“The Semaphore Water Tower is a landmark property perfectly positioned in the heart of cosmopolitan Semaphore — you can’t miss it for its historical significance,” Mr Psarros said.

“This incredible property has stood the test of time and is now ready for the next 100 years.

“We decided to take it to auction because it’s hard to put a price on this property. It’s so unique and there’s nothing that has sold quite like this.”

The impressive family bathroom.

Mr Psarros expects strong interest in the property.

“An opportunity like this will only present itself once in a lifetime.”

“The sheer space each floor offers, the solid stone walls and soaring ceilings all lend this property to a majestic castle feel,” Mr Psarros said.

“The expansive top floor takes in 360-degree views over the whole of the city, beach and hills.”

Mr Psarros said the grand property needed to be seen to be believed. “An opportunity like this will only present itself once in a lifetime,” he said. This can be your opportune moment — to stand out in the crowd — literally.”

The property is scheduled to be to auctioned on-site on Saturday, November 11, at 1pm.

Views to behold from the water tower.

HISTORY OF THE SEMAPHORE WATER TOWER

-Built in 1880, the Tower’s original purpose was to serve the LeFevre Peninsula with water for some 20 years. After this it was used for storage to boost the water pressure in case of fire in the area.

-E & WS employees also used the site as a holiday camp during the Depression.

-Two comfortable apartments were added in 1936, and the tower itself became a residence in 1972.

-The Water Tower overlooks 36 Newman Street where famed aviator Sir Ross Smith was born in 1892.

-The Tower and surrounding buildings sit on around 1031 sqm of land.

-The Tower measures 30m in hight with its walls two metres thick at base narrowing above ground floor level.