Murray House
Encyclopedia
Murray House is a Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
-era building in Stanley
Stanley, Hong Kong
Stanley is a town and a tourist attraction in Hong Kong. It located on a peninsula on the southeastern part of Hong Kong Island. It is east of Repulse Bay and west of Shek O, adjacent to Chung Hom Kok...
in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. Originally built in the present-day business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of Central
Central, Hong Kong
Central is the central business district of Hong Kong. It is located in Central and Western District, on the north shore of Hong Kong Island, across Victoria Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui, the southernmost point of Kowloon Peninsula...
in 1846 as officers' quarters of the Murray Barracks
Murray Barracks
Murray Barracks was a barracks for British Army in Admiralty of Central in Hong Kong. It was named after Sir George Murray, the Master-General of the Ordnance at the time of construction.-Location:...
, the building was relocated to the south of Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...
during the 2000s.
Architecture
Classical order
A classical order is one of the ancient styles of classical architecture, each distinguished by its proportions and characteristic profiles and details, and most readily recognizable by the type of column employed. Three ancient orders of architecture—the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian—originated in...
style. The heavy stone walls (with flat arched opening) are located on the ground floor to a give sense of stability, while the lighter Doric
Doric order
The Doric order was one of the three orders or organizational systems of ancient Greek or classical architecture; the other two canonical orders were the Ionic and the Corinthian.-History:...
and Ionic
Ionic order
The Ionic order forms one of the three orders or organizational systems of classical architecture, the other two canonic orders being the Doric and the Corinthian...
columns are placed on the floors above to allow better ventilation. All floors have verandas on all sides in response to the local subtropical/monsoons climate.
Early history
Murray Barracks
Murray Barracks was a barracks for British Army in Admiralty of Central in Hong Kong. It was named after Sir George Murray, the Master-General of the Ordnance at the time of construction.-Location:...
during the early years of British rule. It was named after Sir George Murray, the British Master-General of the Ordnance
Master-General of the Ordnance
The Master-General of the Ordnance was a very senior British military position before 1855, when the Board of Ordnance was abolished.-Responsibilities:...
at the time of construction. The designer and constructor were Major Aldrich and Lieutenant Collinson of the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
.
Japanese occupation
During the Japanese occupation of Hong KongJapanese occupation of Hong Kong
The Japanese occupation of Hong Kong began after the Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Mark Young, surrendered the territory of Hong Kong to Japan on 25 December 1941 after 18 days of fierce fighting by British and Canadian defenders against overwhelming Japanese Imperial forces. The occupation lasted...
, the building was used as the command centre by the Japanese military police. It was a venue for executing Chinese citizens during the 44-month Japanese occupation.
Post-war period
After World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, several government departments used the building as offices, including the Rating and Valuation Department, starting in 1965. The building was believed to be haunted and was officially exorcised twice by the government.
Relocation in Stanley
Housing Department
Housing Department is a department of Hong Kong Government, managing public housing estates that were built by Hong Kong Housing Authority in Hong Kong. It reports to the Housing, Planning and Lands Bureau, which is headed by the Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands.-See also:* Hong Kong...
proposed the resurrection of the building in Stanley. The building was restored in 2001 and reopened in 2002.
Hong Kong Maritime Museum
The Hong Kong Maritime MuseumHong Kong Maritime Museum
Hong Kong Maritime Museum is a non-profit educational institution funded by Hong Kong's international shipping community and is located on the ground floor of Murray House in Stanley, Hong Kong....
is located on the ground floor of Murray House.
See also
- Blake Pier at Stanley
- Heritage conservation in Hong KongHeritage conservation in Hong KongThis article details the history and status of Heritage conservation in Hong Kong, as well as the role of various stakeholders.An indication of the size of the built heritage in Hong Kong is given by a territory-wide survey conducted by the Antiquities and Monuments Office between 1996 and 2000,...
- List of buildings and structures in Hong Kong
External links
- Video on its history (large 7MB)
- Satellite view of the site - building at centre of image.
- Pictures of Murray House in its original location: http://hkclweb.hkpl.gov.hk/hkclr2/igateway?svc=bsch&stype=itr¶m=title&frm=1&to=1&ss=ContentPhoto&ctrlid=2054047&lang=eng http://hkclweb.hkpl.gov.hk/hkclr2/igateway?svc=bsch&stype=itr¶m=title&frm=1&to=1&ss=ContentPhoto&ctrlid=750748&lang=eng http://hkclweb.hkpl.gov.hk/hkclr2/igateway?svc=bsch&stype=itr¶m=title&frm=1&to=1&ss=ContentPhoto&ctrlid=752113&lang=eng