The Astana, Sarawak
Encyclopedia
The Astana is a palace in Kuching
, Sarawak
, on the north bank of the Sarawak River
, opposite the Kuching Waterfront. It is the official residence of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak
, the Governor of Sarawak. The name is a variation of 'istana
', meaning 'palace
'.
The Astana, then called the 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
on 28 October 1869 and she was raised to the title of Ranee
of Sarawak with the style of Her Highness upon their marriage.
Ranee Margaret only 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
in her memoir “My Life in Sarawak”, which was published in 1913.
The residence was originally three separate buildings, with each connected to the other by short and narrow passageways. In 1883, a clock tower was added at the front of the palace in memory of Charles Brooke, who was the first resident.
Brooke is said to have cultivated betel nut in a small plantation behind the Astana, so that he could offer fresh betel nut to visiting Dayak
chiefs.
The Astana has since undergone major renovations and alterations befitting it as the official residence of the Governor of Sarawak. The palace is not normally open to the public, although the landscaped gardens are, which can be reach by a boat ride across the Sarawak River
.
Kuching
Kuching , officially the City of Kuching, and formerly the City of Sarawak, is the capital and most populous city of the East Malaysian state of Sarawak. It is the largest city on the island of Borneo, and the fourth largest city in Malaysia....
, Sarawak
Sarawak
Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
, on the north bank of the Sarawak River
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...
, opposite the Kuching Waterfront. It is the official residence of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak
Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak
The Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak is the title of the largely symbolic state Governor of the Malaysian state of Sarawak, who is appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or King of Malaysia....
, the Governor of Sarawak. The name is a variation of 'istana
Istana
Istana is a Malay and Indonesian word meaning palace.-Notable Istanas:*Istana Besar, 19th and early 20th century residence of the Sultan of Johor*Istana Bogor, one of presidential palaces of Indonesia in Bogor, West Java...
', meaning 'palace
Palace
A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word itself is derived from the Latin name Palātium, for Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills in Rome. In many parts of Europe, the...
'.
The Astana, then called the Government House, was built in 1870 by the second White Rajah
White Rajahs
White Rajahs refers to a dynasty that founded and ruled the Kingdom of Sarawak from 1841 to 1946, namely the Brookes, who came originally from England. A Rajah is a monarch in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.-Rulers:...
, Charles Brooke, as a wedding gift to his wife, Margaret Alice Lili de Windt. The couple married at Highworth
Highworth
Highworth is a market town in the unitary authority of Swindon in Wiltshire, England, located about north-east of Swindon town centre. At the 2001 census it had a population of 7,996...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
on 28 October 1869 and she was raised to the title of Ranee
Queen consort
A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king. A queen consort usually shares her husband's rank and holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical titles. Historically, queens consort do not share the king regnant's political and military powers. Most queens in history were queens consort...
of Sarawak with the style of Her Highness upon their marriage.
Ranee Margaret only arrived in Sarawak
Sarawak
Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
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
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
in her memoir “My Life in Sarawak”, which was published in 1913.
The residence was originally three separate buildings, with each connected to the other by short and narrow passageways. In 1883, a clock tower was added at the front of the palace in memory of Charles Brooke, who was the first resident.
Brooke is said to have cultivated betel nut in a small plantation behind the Astana, so that he could offer fresh betel nut to visiting Dayak
Dayak people
The Dayak or Dyak are the native people of Borneo. It is a loose term for over 200 riverine and hill-dwelling ethnic subgroups, located principally in the interior of Borneo, each with its own dialect, customs, laws, territory and culture, although common distinguishing traits are readily...
chiefs.
The Astana has since undergone major renovations and alterations befitting it as the official residence of the Governor of Sarawak. The palace is not normally open to the public, although the landscaped gardens are, which can be reach by a boat ride across the Sarawak River
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...
.