Like Penang and Malacca, whose colonial legacy and influence are now being used to lure tourists, Sarawak too wants to showcase its historical treasures to the tourist but in its own way. 

Sarawak’s early history is unique as it was ruled not by a foreign empire but by the Brooke family from 1841 to 1941. 

Designs of yore: The building that used to house the government printing office is now the Resident’s office.

When James Brooke arrived in 1839, Kuching then consisted of humble timber huts with nipah-thatched roofs nestled along the Sarawak River mostly along the present Main Bazaar. 

During Brooke’s reign, many notable heritage buildings and landmarks emerged, among them the Bishop’s House, built in 1849, old State Mosque (1847), Government House (1857), and St Thomas Cathedral (1857). 

The reign of the White Rajah effectively came to an end with the invasion of the Japanese forces on Christmas eve in 1941, yet it is arguably the Brooke legacy that provided Kuching its charm till today. 

In recognising that Brooke’s legacy has to be preserved for posterity and its tourism potential, the Sarawak Heritage Society was set up recently to conserve and capitalise on heritage assets. 

The Round Tower.

For a start the society, a non-governmental organisation, is undertaking the Kuching Heritage Trails in collaboration with the Malaysian Architects Association chapter in Sarawak. 

The heritage trail is not only a tourism product but also to promote understanding, appreciation and conservation of Sarawak’s rich history. 

“With the new Kuching Heritage Trails, we should be able to make headway in tapping the potential of built heritage and exploit it for tourism while portraying the state’s unique history,” Sarawak Urban Development and Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh said at the launching here. 

Society president Datuk Aloysius Dris explained that the trail, dubbed the “Brooke Legacy Self-Guided Tours” featuring buildings that best capture the charm of the Brooke era, is within walking distance in the historic precinct of the old part of Kuching city. 

The trail consist of two routes. Route One covers the eastern part of the old Kuching Town while Route Two covers the western part of the town. 

The Pavillion

It provides leisure exploration between one and three hours, split into various tourism interests of food, spices and historical buildings and properly trained heritage guides can be engaged to conduct the tours. 

Dris pointed out that Route One starts at the Old Kuching Court House, the first Brooke era administrative building that housed all the government functions under one roof. 

Now redesignated as the Sarawak Tourism Complex, its construction started in 1868 and the harmonious integration of simplified classical elements adapted to local conditions with long narrow blocks and deep verandahs, makes it a fine example of the architecture of a bygone era. 

The route then takes the visitors to the six-metre high granite obelisk facing the Kuching Waterfront, commissioned in 1924 to honour the second Rajah, Charles Brooke, for his services and dedication to the state. 

The Guan Thian Siang Ti Temple today.

At each corner is a bronze panel with figures representing Chinese, Iban, Malay and Kayan communities, representing the ethnic diversity in Sarawak. 

The Japanese Building, the only purpose-built administrative building by the Japanese Occupational Force in Sarawak during World War II (WWII) is also located along the route. 

Dris said prisoners of war (PoWs) at the time were used to construct the building, which blocked the link between India Street and Carpenter Street. 

Another building on the route is the Pavillion built in 1909 which was used as a propaganda headquarters by the Japanese. But after the war, it was occupied by the Education Department until the 1970s when it was used by the Judiciary Department. 

Listed as a historical building, it is under conservation and currently used by the Museum Department as its Textile Museum. 

After the great fire of 1884, which destroyed much of the buildings between Carpenter Street and Main Bazaar, the Round Tower was the first public building built and completed two years later in the area. 

Although it initially operated as the town dispensary, it is commonly believed that it was originally intended as a sentry post and, possibly, also as a defence outpost for the Brooke administrators because of its strategic location by the Sarawak River. 

The Astana.

“The presence of narrow slit windows, resembling gunslots, probably fuelled this speculation,” he said. 

The route also goes across the Sarawak River, which can be crossed by a short ride using the tambang (boat), to the Astana that is the present day official residence of the Sarawak Governor Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng. 

Completed in 1870 as the private residence of Charles Brooke, it was built as a bridal gift to his wife, Ranee Margaret, and the Brookes occupied it until Sir Charles Vyner Brooke left Sarawak after the Japanese invasion. 

Route One also covers the General Post Office (1932), Guan Thian Siang Ti Temple (1889), Kueh Seng Onn Temple (1895), Tua Pek Kong Temple (pre1839), Old Chinese Court (1912), Fort Margherita (1879), Old Sarawak Steamship Building (1930) and the Square Tower (1879). 

Meanwhile, Route Two covers the Old Market (19241959), Indian Mosque (1876), Old Fire Brigade Station (1917), Brooke Dockyard (1912), Old Railway Station and Maintenance Depot (1907) and Central Police Station (1930). 

Kuching Heritage Trails is bound to leave visitors spellbound with the charm of the old city and present them with the White Rajah’s legacy. – Bernama