Queens Wharf Tower up for resurrection

Queens Wharf Tower could rise again somewhere else in Australia after Newcastle City Council fielded interest in the harbour-side edifice from far-flung parties.
 
Council announced late last year it would demolish the 40m-high structure to save on maintenance costs, but approaches from parties hoping to acquire it have prompted an expression of interest process.

"We received a couple of inquiries about purchasing the steel tower - one offer coming from a group in Western Australia," Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
 
"The dryer weather over there would certainly extend its service life, unlike the humid, salty air here by the coast, which makes it prohibitively expensive to maintain.
 
"Given this interest, it's only fair that we run an EOI process, and if we find someone who'll give the tower a good home, then we'll be happy to support its resurrection.
 
"If we don't get any responses, then we will still go ahead with the demolition to save around $1.6million in maintenance fees for rate payers over the next few years."

The 12-storey tower with 180 steps was opened in 1988 as part of Australia's Bicentenary celebrations.
 
Its shape has long made it the butt of jokes and many people feel it blights a skyline more noted for 19^th century architecture.
 
The EOI tender process is available through tenderlink.