Exploring Sarawak: A Journey Through Its Fascinating Museums
Sarawak, located on the island of Borneo in Malaysia, is a region rich in cultural diversity, history, and natural beauty. The state is home to a variety of museums that reflect its unique heritage, indigenous cultures, and significant historical milestones. From showcasing the traditions of the indigenous tribes to the natural wonders of Borneo’s rainforests, Sarawak’s museums offer visitors an insightful journey into the past and present.
(Photo credit : BorneoTalk :https://www.borneotalk.com/post/borneo-cultures-museum )
Borneo Cultures Museum
The Borneo Cultures Museum is located in the centre of Kuching city next to Padang Merdeka. This five-storey building is designed in a modern style, with distinctive architectural features that reflects Sarawak’s unique traditional crafts and rich cultural heritage.
Each gallery within this five-storey building offers a different experience. The children’s gallery theme on the second floor is ‘Love our Rivers’, the ‘In Harmony with Nature’ gallery is on the third floor, the ‘Time Changes’ gallery is on the fourth floor, and the ‘Objects of Desire’ gallery is on the fifth floor.
Opening hours: 9.30 am-4.30 pm (Saturday-Sunday), 9 am-4.45 pm (Monday to Friday)
(Photo credit: Sarawak Museum Department : https://museum.sarawak.gov.my/web/subpage/webpage_view/102 )
Chinese History Museum
The building was built in 1912 and is located at the Kuching Waterfront. Originally, it was used as a court by the Chinese community until 1921. After that, the building was taken over by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.
In 1993, this historic building was transformed into the Chinese History Museum. Currently, the museum serves as a source of information on the history of various Chinese communities. It aims to educate the younger generation to appreciate the struggles and the core values developed by their ancestors.
Opening hours: 10 am-4 pm (Saturday-Sunday), 9 am-4.45 pm (Monday to Friday)
Address: Chinese History Museum, Jalan Bazar, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
Price range: Free
(Photo credit: Sarawak Museum Department https://museum.sarawak.gov.my/web/subpage/webpage_view/103 )
Sarawak Islamic Heritage Museum
Originally established in 1930 as Madrasah Melayu Sarawak, the Sarawak Islamic Heritage Museum is situated on P. Ramlee Road. Initially, the historic building served as a dedicated space for training teachers in advanced Malay education.
Comprising seven galleries, the museum encompasses diverse themes such as Islamic history in Sarawak, Islamic architecture, science and technology, economy, education and literature, costumes, music and personal belongings, weaponry, decorative arts and domestic tools, and a Quran collection.
Opening hours: 10 am-4 pm (Saturday-Sunday), 9 am-4.45 pm (Monday to Friday)
Address: Jalan P. Ramlee, 93400 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
Price range: Free
(Photo credit: The Brooke Gallery Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebrookegallery/ )
The Brooke Museum
Sitting along the Kuching River, Margaret Castle, also recognised as The Brooke Museum, is a modest British-style structure constructed in 1879. Serving as a notable symbol along the Sarawak River, the castle holds the historical accounts of the Brooke Dynasty in Sarawak. It’s named after Charles Brooke’s wife, Rani Margaery, and the castle stands to the present day.
Opening hours: 9 am-4.45 pm (Monday to Sunday)
Address: Fort Margherita, Petra Jaya, 93050 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
Price range: Free (Children under 7), RM5 (Concession), RM10 (Local Malaysian), RM20 (Non-Malaysian)
Photo credit: Sarawak Museum Department : https://museum.sarawak.gov.my/web/subpage/webpage_view/196 )
Sri Aman Heritage Museum (Fort Alice)
During Brooke’s rule, Sri Aman was known as Simanggang and this museum was known then as Fort Alice, named after Charles Brooke’s wife Ranee Margaret Alice. Simanggang was a favourite abode for Sir Charles Brooke, where Fort Alice was used as an administration centre, defence centre, court, jail and hospital during his reign. Situated strategically at a vantage point overlooking Batang Lupar, it gave the British an advantage to counter attacks from the Dayak headhunters passing by the river in their perahu (longboats). Fort Alice was also famously known for being attacked by Dayak warrior Rentap when headhunting was widely practiced in Borneo.
Gazetted under The Antiquity Ordinance in 1971, the 161-year-old fort was renamed as Sri Aman Heritage
Museum after some restoration works. It opened its doors to the public on April 18, 2015.
If you happen to be in Sri Aman, make your way to the Sri Aman Heritage Museum to catch a glimpse of Sri Aman’s past, and see the evolution of Simanggang into Sri Aman. The Iban earthern crocodile effigies on the compound are also part of the museum’s exciting collection of exhibits, besides antique British cannons and Iban war boats.
Admission is free. Opening hours: Tuesdays to Fridays from 9am to 4:45pm; Weekends from 10am to 4pm
Photo credit: Sarawak Museum Department : https://museum.sarawak.gov.my/web/subpage/webpage_view/100 )
Limbang Regional Museum (Old Fort)
Built in 1897, this two-storey wooden building was once used as a fort during the reign of Rajah Charles Brooke. During that era, the ground floor served two functions. One half of it was a jail and the other half a storage house. Later on, the upper floor became an administrative centre, and served as offices to the resident and district officers. In 1989, the fort was tragically engulfed in fire but was rebuilt as Limbang District Museum in 1991, following the original design. Limbang Regional Museum was first gazetted under The Antiquity Ordinance in 1985.
In this museum, visitors are able to learn about the history, cultures and lifestyles of multicultural Limbang, including the Bisaya, Lun Bawang, Tagal and Kadayan. The museum exhibits ethnic artefacts such as bark cloth, bamboo band, beadwork and brassware, and offers sneak peek into the daily lives of these communities by understanding the pictorial displays of salt-making and tattoo. Getting to Limbang Regional Museum is easy, as it is situated uphill on the bank of Limbang River, not far from town.
Admission is free.
Opening hours: Tuesdays to Fridays from 9am to 4:45pm; Weekends from 10am to 4pm • Tel: +60 85 214 416
Fort Tebekang (Serian)
Fort Tebekang was built during Charles Vyner Brooke’s era as an administrative centre in 1929. Built on top of a small hill near Sadong river behind Pangkalan Embong, the fort’s structure, including its roof, is made out of belian (ironwood) in Malay style. It was renovated in the 1950s to accommodate the various government offices and departments. During the Japanese occupation in World War II, Fort Tebekang was used as an administrative centre and a fort. It was officially gazetted in 2008 under the Sarawak Cultural Heritage Ordinance 1993. Currently, only the site of this fort remains.
Photo credit: Research Centre: Borneo Regionalism and Conservation: University of Technology Sarawak https://borc.uts.edu.my/gallery/
Fort Emma (Kanowit)
Named after Rajah James Brooke’s sister Emma, this fort was built in 1851 for the sole purpose as a checking look-out point for raids by the Iban from Ulu Batang Rejang and Rajang-Melanau who had settled downriver. Initially, the fort was situated at the centre of Kanowit before it was moved to its present site. Originally made of bamboo before belian timber is added Fort Emma is similar with other forts in Sarawak in terms of design and structure. The Iban and Rajang- Melanau provided materials and labour in the making of the current Fort Emma, in exchange for rice, salt and tobacco.
Officially gazetted under The Antiquity Ordinance in 1985, Fort Emma has three floors in total. The non-cemented ground floor served as cells for prisoners who were guarded by Sikhs and the Sarawak Rangers. The Native Officers (Abang) and District Officers used the first floor as their offices. The top floor was the living quarters for the District Officer and accommodated VIPs including the Rajah on their occasional visits. Throughout the Colonial rule some renovations were carried out where belian planks were made thinner and the whole fort was repainted.
Note: Fort Emma is in the process of undergoing refurbishment works into a mini museum.
Fort Sylvia (Kapit)
Built in 1880, Fort Sylvia was renamed after the wife of Rajah Charles Vyner Brooke, Rani Sylvia Brooke in 1925. It was gazetted officially under The Antiquity Ordinance in 1971. The fort is entirely built out of thick
belian timber to withstand assaults by attackers via the mighty Batang Rajang, located about one mile above Kapit River. This fort was established to assert control over war-like activities of the Iban against weaker and smaller ethnic groups such as the Ukit and the Bukitan living in the upper Batang Rajang and Balleh. Various government departments occupied this fort, which served as a centre of the government’s administration in this remote area, providing services to the people.
Currently managed by Tun Jugah Foundation as a mini- museum, the fort exhibits pua kumbu pieces, photographs and document copies related to the history of Kapit and the fort itself. Its Community Wall of Fame display photographs of historical figures and community leaders from various ethnic groups. Among them are Tun Jugah ak Barieng, Datuk Abang Abdul Gapor bin Abang Tek and Penghulu Hang Nyipa.
Opening hours: Tuesdays to Sundays from 10am to 12noon and 2pm to 5pm.
Photo credit: Edmund Dehan https://myweekendplan.asia/top-best-things-to-do-in-betong/
Fort Lily (Betong)
Betong town’s historical landmark was built in 1885 to commemorate the surrender of Sultan Brunei and handing over of Betong to the second Rajah, Charles Brooke. Later, it was used as a defence fortress against potential attacks from the Iban headhunters from Sadok. The Malays who resided at Kampung Muara Padeh needed the fortress as a form of protection from enemies. Fort Lily was also a government office for many years.
Fort Lily was officially gazetted under The Antiquity Ordinance in 1971. Currently, Fort Lily is undergoing a facelift to transform it into a mini museum for the Betong community, which is a project undertaken by the Sarawak Museum Department.
Fort Lio Mato (Marudi)
Originally built by Douglas and Adams in 1911, this fort was later on rebuilt using much of the original material. The process was initiated by Hudden and completed by O.C White. Besides serving as the administrative office for Lio Mato area in Marudi, the fort also doubles as a lodging home for government officers, travellers and visitors to the region. Fort Lio Mato was officially gazetted in 2008 under Sarawak Cultural Heritage Ordinance 1993.
Fort Arundell (Lubok Antu)
Established in 1912, Fort Arundell was named after then resident of Simanggang Division (now Sri Aman), Gilbert Roger Harris Arundell, in honour of his just governance and kindness towards the Iban people. Sadly, the well-liked resident was killed in Ulu Ai in 1942 when the Japanese attacked Sarawak during World War II. Officially gazetted in 2008 under Sarawak Cultural Heritage Ordinance 1993, Fort Arundell is currently an administrative centre that houses various government agencies.
Fort Charles (Kabong)
The original fort built by one of the Brooke’s officers, Maxwell collapsed in 1878 due to the beachfront’s soil erosion in 1893. Two years later, the fort was rebuilt further inland to replace the original one. Similar to many other forts in Sarawak, Fort Charles also acts as an administration centre that houses various government departments. Fort Charles was officially gazetted in 2008 under Sarawak Cultural Heritage Ordinance 1993.
Fort Brooke (Julau)
Built on top of a hill at Nangga Meluan, Fort Brooke has belian walls so thick that some believe it is bulletproof. Before the building materials were replaced to belian in 1940 by the Brooke’s government, the fort was originally built from bamboo with wooden roofing. Fort Brooke is similar in terms of design and dimensions with other forts in Sarawak such as Fort Lily, Fort Sylvia and Fort Emma.
Constructed in 1935 and officially gazetted in 2008 under Sarawak Cultural Heritage Ordinance 1993, this fort originally housed the Rajah’s police, troops and officials that were sent to safeguard government activities and ensure security against raids led by the former penghulu (community leader) from Entabai, Asun Paing and his followers. Between 1954 and 1981, the fort was used as the Julau District Council Office and Julau Education Department whereby some of the rooms were used as classrooms during that time.
Note: Sarawak Museum department is currently refurbishing Fort Brooke, turning it into a mini museum.
Fort Long Akah (Marudi)
The third Rajah, Charles Vyner Brooke built this fort in 1929 as an administrative headquarters. Situated on top of Kuala Baram and the Akah river, Fort Long Akah was built in a semi-forest area inhabited by the Kenyah and Penan communities. Fort Long Akah was gazetted in 2008 under Sarawak Cultural Heritage Ordinance 1993.
A symbol of authority and power to the Kenyah community, Fort Long Akah once acted as a defence post during the Japanese Occupation. During its time, the fort has also served as a court for magistrates and village chiefs for adjudicating local disputes while the ground floor functioned as a prison to detain offenders.