Old Kuching Smart Heritage
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KAMPUNG HERITAGE 10 Keringkam Embroidery houses the Textile Museum. (Opening Hours: Mon - Fri from 9am - 4.45pm • Sat, Sun & BUSINESS HERITAGE Public Holidays: 10am - 4pm) Come witness first-hand how the traditional Keringkam is made. This luxurious fashion piece once afforded only by 1 Masjid Besar Kuching 36 India Street the Malay nobles of Kuching is meticulously embroidered 23 Round Tower First established before the arrival of James Brooke using gold thread and a special needle. Priced according This historic street, a popular tourist destination in Built after the great fire of Jan 20, 1884, the tower in Kuching, this mosque’s earliest incarnation was to either thread count or overall workmanship, it is worn Kuching, was formerly known as Kling Street in the opened in 1886 and served as a dispensary, Labour constructed on the banks of the river at the foothills, on weddings or special occasions and usually paired 1850s. It was renamed as India Street in 1928 by Department office and Subordinate Courts Registry. and made entirely of wood, with the characteristics of with equally luxurious Sarawak Songket. Sir Charles Vyner Brooke, the Third White Rajah of traditional Malay house construction of that time. Its The Round Tower is just as beautiful today against its Sarawak and was converted into a pedestrian mall in current beautiful Mughal-inspired structure with Malay modern backdrop as it was centuries before. 1992.. influences was commissioned in 1967 following a visit by Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj. As of now Masjid Besar Kuching remains as one HISTORICAL MONUMENTS HERITAGE 24 Japanese Building of the most iconic buildings in the heart of Kuching City. 37 Carpenter Street This is the only administrative building constructed by Located behind the Main Bazaar, Carpenter Street is 11 Square Tower the Japanese Occupational Force during World War II, one of the oldest streets in Kuching. Existing for more 2 Rumah Warisan Haji Taha / Darul Kurnia One of the most photographed monuments in Kuching using labourers from Sarawak and Sabah. They were than 200 years, the street has a rich history and is Darul Kurnia is a colonial style mansion built in for its elegant Colonial style architecture typical of the forced to march from Batu Lintang Camp where they today lined with old shophouses, many of them still the 1930s by Datu Patinggi Abang Haji Abdillah. A Brooke era, it was built in 1879. Today, this iconic white were held. housing decades-old heritage businesses. Sarawakian independence patriot, Datu Patinggi Hj tower houses an award-winning fine-dining restaurant, Abdillah was a highly influential leader of his time, most although in the past it was also used as a jailhouse, an 25 Old Courthouse known for spearheading the anti-cession movement. administrative office and a dance hall. It was built in 1868 and completed in 1874. Since The anti-cession movement is a fight against British 38 China Street then, it was used as the Government of Sarawak’s Empire’s attempt to govern Sarawak as a crown colony China Street is located at an intersection in the middle 12 administrative centre until 1973. Today, it houses without sufficient consultation with native residents. This house is historically significant The Astana of Carpenter Street, connecting Jalan Wawasan on one the Ranee Museum, restaurants and cafés. (Tour as witness to the ‘338 Event’ - a protest by hundreds of civil servants, at the risk of losing Built in 1870 by Rajah Charles Brooke in the style end, cutting through Carpenter Street and out to Jalan Old Kuching in large groups require a simple letter to inform the their job, to demonstrate their unwillingness to be colonised. of an English manor as a gift to his beloved wife Main Bazaar on the other end. Smart Heritage (OKSHe) Margaret, the Ranee of Sarawak. It serves today as management.) the official residence of the Sarawak Governor. 3 Tapak Persaudaraan Masjid Bintangor Haji Taha 39 Bishopgate Street The Old Kuching Smart Heritage is a visionary project by 26 Brooke Memorial Masjid Bintangor Haji Taha (MBHT), founded by This stretch of road is located between Carpenter 13 The memorial was erected in 1924 in memory of Sir the Sarawak Government to transforming Old Kuching into Datok Haji Abang Safuani Bin Abang Juini is a social Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Street and Ewe Hai Street. One side is accessible by Building Charles Brooke for his services and dedication to a World Tourism Heritage Site. It is a collaborative effort organisation in Kuching with aims to empower the car and leads to Jalan Main Bazaar while the other is Sarawak. It is made of granite and features an image of between local authorities, private sectors and business Malay community following the cessation of Sarawak The new Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) an alleyway that leads to a gate at the end. building stands proud on the north bank of the Sarawak Sir Charles Brooke carved out of a white marble slab. industries, State agencies, institutions of higher learning, to British Empire. In order to unite the communities, MBHT began organising a series of live performance River, as an icon of modern-day Sarawak. The 9-storey training centres, non-Governmental organisations, media 40 shows known as ‘Bangsawan Kampung’ throughout building was declared open by the Yang di-Pertuan Ewe Hai Street fraternities and local communities, targeted towards 27 Fort Margherita different villages. The shows comprising amateur theatres, live band and song Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin on July 27, 2009. Ewe Hai Street connects directly to Carpenter Street Built in 1879 by Sir Charles Brooke to protect Kuching heritage preservation and conservation, establishment performances were often performed voluntarily by singers in a generous spirit of and is lined with cafes, furniture shops and businesses from pirate attacks, it was repurposed in 1971 as a of smart infrastructure through the use of IT and cut- goodwill that was unprecedented. Proceeds from these shows were donated to the that have thrived for decades. A charming Chinese 14 Masjid Bandar Kuching police museum before handed over to the Sarawak education development project in Sarawak, making it possible to build Sekolah Rakyat in temple lies at the end of the street. ting-edge technology, as well as the promotion of local Government. Today, it houses the Brooke Gallery. hopes of providing education to the younger generation. Commonly known as Masjid India, it was built in 1876 culture, art and sport, ultimately helping to boost the local to replace a wooden surau before it. Inside, the (Daily opening Hours: 9am - 4.45pm • Prior arrangements with tour guide is necessary socio economy. mosque boasts a large bedok, a traditional drum used for large tour groups.) 4 Rumah Warisan Datu Bandar Abang Haji Kassim to announce the call to prayer. The OKSH initiative encompasses Historical Monuments Built in 1863 by Kuching mayor Datu Bandar Abang 28 Chinese History Museum 40 Pandungan Street Heritage, Kampung Heritage, Business Heritage and Riv- Haji Kassim, this building was the biggest palatial size 15 Old Fire Station A charming pink coloured building originally serving Malay house in Kuching at the time. Known to the This street dates back to the 18th Century and is erfront Heritage, covering large areas of the city from old as the Chinese Courthouse from 1912 until 1921. locals as ‘Rumah Batu’ (The Stone House), it was the It began operating after receiving the first coal- lined with old shophouses housing cafes, workshops, Padungan to Kubah Ria. Explore these trails to uncover a It was opened as the Chinese History Museum in first Malay house built using stones and concrete, the powered fire engine from the UK in 1917. The station grocery stores and convenience stores, among others. 1993. (Opening Hours: Mon - Fri from 9am - 4.30pm wealth of heritage offerings. first of its kind in a time where houses were primarily itself was demolished, leaving only its lookout tower • Sat from 10am - 3.30pm • Please take note that built using wood. Having survived a sacking by the that is now part of the ‘open-air food court’. (Daily photography is not allowed in the museum unless Japanese army during the Japanese Occupation in Sarawak, this building remains Opening Hours: 7am-10.30pm) with written consent from the management.) standing as an indomitable part of Sarawakian history. RIVERFRONT HERITAGE 16 Kuching Divisional Mosque OKSHe TRAILS 29 Tua Pek Kong Temple 11 Kuching Waterfront 5 Rumah Warisan Jalan Masjid Located on a hilltop at Jalan Masjid, it was built in Also known as Siew San Temple, it has been in The scenic Kuching Waterfront is situated at the Main Bazaar. Walk along the Waterfront This heritage house on Jalan Masjid still retains most 1968 to replace a wooden mosque built there in Historical Monuments Heritage Trail: The Historical Mon- existence since 1770 and underwent extensive to see some of Kuching’s most prominent tourist attractions, such as Fort Margherita, the of its traditional features, as seen from the wooden 1847 by Datuk Patinggi Ali. It stands today as one of uments Heritage Trail features 25 stops and is perfect for reconstructions works in 1856, 1965 and 2002. Astana, the Old Courthouse and the Square Tower. window shutters typical in houses of old. the city’s most striking historical landmarks. history buffs wishing to learn more about the city’s early days and the legacy of the White Rajah. Attractions in- 30 OLD KUCHING SMART HERITAGE 6 17 Islamic Heritage Museum Sarawak Steamship Building Madrasah Orang Melayu Islam Level 9, Wisma Bapa Malaysia, Petra Jaya, clude British Colonial buildings, forts, museums, memorials Built in 1930 as the office and warehouse of the Sarawak This humble heritage house was once used as a It was built by the Brooke administration as the James 93502 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.