Fort Margherita

This article is about the fort in Sarawak, Malaysia. For the fortification in Malta, see Santa Margherita Lines.
Fort Margherita
Fort Margherita - the main tower and the walls
Map
General information
StatusCompleted
TypeFort
LocationKuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
Coordinates1°33′38″N 110°20′58″E / 1.56056°N 110.34944°E / 1.56056; 110.34944
Construction startedunknown
Completed1879[1]
Cost$8,100 Sarawak dollar[2]
OwnerGovernment of Sarawak
Technical details
Floor count3

Fort Margherita is a fort constructed in 1879[3] by Charles Brooke, the second Rajah of Sarawak, situated in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. The fort is an important landmark and monument in Sarawak's history which goes back to the century-old Brooke dynasty of Sarawak.[1] The fort, built in the style of an English castle, was designed to protect Kuching from attacks by pirates.[4][5][6] It served as a Police Museum from 1971 before being handed over to the Government of Sarawak and now is a tourist attraction in Kuching. The fort now houses the Brooke Gallery, an exhibition showcasing the history of Sarawak under the Brooke dynasty.[5][7]

It is situated across the Sarawak River near The Astana, the official residence of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak, and is accessible by road. It is a 15-minute drive along Petra Jaya, or a short river cruise from Pangkalan Batu, in front of Main Bazaar on Kuching Waterfront and located next to the New Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Building.[8] It is part of the Kuching Heritage Trail.[9]

  1. ^ a b James Alexander Ritchie (28 December 2018). "Fort Margherita – Sarawak's Bastion of Protection". New Sarawak Tribune. Archived from the original on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  2. ^ Saiful Bahari (25 September 2016). "Brooke Gallery opens at Fort Margherita". The Borneo Post. Archived from the original on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  3. ^ Sarawak Long Ago. 1969. p. 33. ISBN 983-62-3981-2.
  4. ^ Graham Land (2018). "Kuching's colonial heritage". Asian Correspondent. Archived from the original on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  5. ^ Sam Bedford (9 June 2018). "The (Almost) Romantic Tale of Kuching's Fort Margherita". Culture Trip. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  6. ^ Geryl Ogilvy (6 July 2017). "Walkway for Fort Margherita". The Star. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  7. ^ "Old Kuching Heritage Trail". Sarawak Tourism. Archived from the original on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.