- A Canterbury couple bought the Clifton Ark in Sumner, Christchurch, planning to make it their home.
- The 860sqm timber-clad replica of Noah’s ark was seeking $1.5m; the sale price is undisclosed.
- The top level will be converted into a home, with plans for a theatre on one lower level.
The Kiwi version of Noah’s ark has finally sold, with the new owners planning to transform the unusual building into a home for both them and their pets.
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New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty agent Rod Cross told OneRoof that a Canterbury couple had snapped up the Clifton Ark in Sumner, Christchurch.
The property, an 860sqm architecturally-designed, timber-clad replica of the biblical boat that carried Noah and his menagerie to safety, had been seeking $1.5 million, but Cross was unable to reveal the exact sale price until after settlement next month.
Wedding ceremonies were held on the top deck in the purpose-built chapel. Photo / Supplied
The ark is built from wood and was the brainchild of Christian couple Ken and Bev Loader. Photo / Supplied
Cross said the new owners had been keeping a close eye on the property, which hit the market and made the headlines in February. They finally stepped on board a few months ago. “The timing was right.”
The buyers planned to convert the top level of the ark, which spans over 220sqm, into their own home to make the most of the Clifton Hill location and the stunning views over Sumner, Cross said.
They were still working out what to do with the bottom two levels, but it was likely that one would become a theatre.
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Cross said the couple would be taking some animals with them. “I think there are some pets. I don’t know what species of pet at this point.”
The ark had been previously run as a wedding venue for 10 years before closing after the Christchurch earthquakes and had generated huge interest.
“One of the biggest questions I would get in the community is ‘Have you sold the ark yet?’, so it’s a pleasure to say yes now,” he said.
The dance floor is in the basement and would likely be partitioned into rooms by the new owner. Photo / Supplied
A fresco depiction of Noah’s Ark. The biblical tale inspired the creators of its Canterbury namesake. Photo / Getty Images
“We had to cast the net really wide to find the right buyer for this one ... it needed to be the right person with the vision to transform it into a unique residence.”
It was originally built as a wedding venue by Christian couple Ken and Bev Loader in the early 2000s to complement the popular Gethsemane Gardens.
A developer purchased the large gardens and venue, which was on almost 3ha, in 2013. The property has been transformed into the high-end Gethsemane Heights gated subdivision and is now surrounded by luxury homes.
The ark now sits on a much smaller 1201sqm section. While the property had previously been run as a business, a change in zoning to residential meant it was now destined to become someone’s home.
Cross said the developer was pleased with the outcome.
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