The Astana (
Malay: ''Astana Sarawak'') is a palace in
Kuching
Kuching ( , ), officially the City of Kuching, is the capital and the most populous city in the States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Sarawak in Malaysia. It is also the capital of Kuching Division. The city is on the Sarawak Ri ...
,
Sarawak
Sarawak ( , ) is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia. It is the largest among the 13 states, with an area almost equal to that of Peninsular Malaysia. Sarawak is located in East Malaysia in northwest Borneo, and is ...
,
Malaysia
Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...
, on the north bank of the
Sarawak River
The Sarawak River () is a river in Sarawak, Malaysia. It is an important source of water and transportation for the inhabitants in southwestern Sarawak. The river is also used for water-related sport activities such as the annual Sarawak Regatta ...
, opposite the Kuching Waterfront. It is the official residence of the
Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak (Governor of Sarawak). The name is a variation of '
istana', meaning '
palace
A palace is a large residence, often serving as a royal residence or the home for a head of state or another high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word is derived from the Latin name palātium, for Palatine Hill in Rome whi ...
'.
It was built in 1870 by the second
White Rajah,
Charles Brooke, as a wedding gift to his wife,
Margaret Alice Lili de Windt.
The palace is not normally open to the public, although the landscaped gardens are, which can be reached by a boat ride across the Sarawak River. It is part of the Kuching Heritage Trail.
History
The Astana, then called
Government House, was built in 1870 by the second
White Rajah,
Charles Brooke, as a wedding gift to his wife,
Margaret Alice Lili de Windt.
The couple married at
Highworth,
Wiltshire
Wiltshire (; abbreviated to Wilts) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It borders Gloucestershire to the north, Oxfordshire to the north-east, Berkshire to the east, Hampshire to the south-east, Dorset to the south, and Somerset to ...
on 28 October 1869 and she was then raised to the title of
Ranee of Sarawak with the style of Her Highness. Ranee Margaret arrived in Sarawak in 1870, and the royal couple then occupied The Astana as their main home. She later reminisced about life in The Astana and colonial
Borneo
Borneo () is the List of islands by area, third-largest island in the world, with an area of , and population of 23,053,723 (2020 national censuses). Situated at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia, it is one of the Greater Sunda ...
in her memoir ''My Life in Sarawak'', which was published in 1913. Brooke is said to have cultivated
betel nut
The areca nut ( or ) or betel nut () is the fruit of the areca palm ('' Areca catechu''). The palm is originally native to the Philippines, but was carried widely through the tropics by the Austronesian migrations and trade since at least 1 ...
in a small plantation behind The Astana, so that he could offer fresh betel nut to visiting
Dayak chiefs.
Architecture
The residence was originally three separate buildings, which were interconnected by short and narrow passageways. The Astana has since undergone major renovations and alterations befitting it as the official residence of the governor of Sarawak.
See also
*
New Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Building
*
Wisma Bapa Malaysia
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Astana Sarawak
Tourist attractions in Kuching
Buildings and structures in Kuching
Palaces in Malaysia
Official residences of Malaysian state leaders
Houses completed in 1870
1870 establishments in Sarawak
19th-century architecture in Malaysia