Old Treasures
Pre-war monuments in the state are steeped in history and grandeur
There are many pre-war buildings in Johor Baru, that are beautiful, full of history and more importantly still in operation.
Among them is the Broadway Theatre in Jalan Segget.
The cinema is said to be the district's first in the state and started operations in 1930.
However, in the late 90's, it lost its appeal after cineplex's started mushrooming.
Now, under the management of Lotus Five Star, the two-story Broadway Theatre remains in operation but screens only Tamil and Hindi movies.
The Kwong Siew Wai Kuan building along Jalan Siu Nam, was built in 1907, as the headquarters of the Kwong Siew Clan Association. It was established in 1878 by Wong Ah Fook.
Wong was a Chinese-national and an influential entrepreneur who is said to have links with the Johor Sultan.
The building now serves as a museum.
Another building at No 56 along Jalan Tan Hiok Nee is a pre-war shop-house that was built in the 19th century.
Jalan Tan Hiok Nee was declared a heritage street in 2009.
The house with decorative motifs on the walls once belonged to an Indian family and over the years the property ownership changed hands several times.
Today, after restoration works by its present owner, the house named the Red House has been rented out to an organisation as a venue for cultural events.
There is also beautiful arch along Jalan Trus that was recently restored by the Johor Baru City Council's appointed contractors.
There is not much information available on the arch and most of the records are incomplete.
However, United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) Accredited Cultural Heritage guide Jimmy Leong said the arch which is only known as the Jalan Trus Historical Archway was built in the early 19th century.
At that time Jalan Trus used to house the wet market. It was always overflowing with people and was a hive of activity.
There are two other historical archways in Johor Baru besides the one in Jalan Trus. They are located along Jalan Segget and Jalan Tan Hiok Nee.
Leong, 59, whose house used to be where the current Puteri Pacific Hotel stands now, organises heritage trail tours as well.
A Johor Baru Heritage Walk -- "Your Walking Map" has also been created to offer visitors and locals an organised trail to explore and experience first-hand the old but rich history of Johor Baru.
Johor Tourism Department director Mohd Haffiz Ahmad said the walking map was given to locals for free and to tourists as a guide for them to explore the city.
On the map, a brief history of Johor's Maharaja Temenggung Tun Daeng Ibrahim (1810-1862) is also included.
Temenggung Tun Daeng Ibrahim established an administration centre in Tanjung Puteri in 1855, which he renamed Iskandar Puteri in 1862.
He was succeeded by his son Sultan Abu Bakar who changed Tanjung Puteri to Johor Baru in 1966.
Mohd Haffiz said among the 20 attractions are the Sultan Ibrahim Building or Bukit Timbalan which was the state's former administration centre that was built in 1940.
The building's architecture is influenced by colonial and Malay elements.
Johor's administration centre now operates from Kota Iskandar, which is a newly developed area under the Iskandar Malaysia project.
Mohd Haffiz said although the Bank Negara Malaysia along Jalan Bukit Timbalan was built in 1959, and therefore relatively new, it is still on the map.
Johor is the only state in the country with its own military which is known as the Johor Military Force (JMF). The JMF was established in 1885. JMF is also the nation's oldest army.
The Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque, the Church of Immaculate Conception, the Johor Baru Old Chinese Temple, the Gurdwara Sahib and the Sri Raja Mariamman Temple, are among the houses of worship which are on the walking map.
Also on the map is the Johor Baru south district police headquarters, also known as the Johor Baru Central Police Station.
The building was built in 1914, and the old Johor Baru Railway Station was built in 1931.
The colonial-style railway station which is no longer in operation now serves as a museum, exhibiting artifacts used in the locomotive and rail industry.
The Indian Muslim Mosque with two minarets in Jalan Dhoby known as Dato' Haji Ahmad Awang, is also on the map for its unique features, though its historical records are incomplete.
The mosque, with its white washed walls and royal blue-tinted glass windows was built by the Indian Muslim community.
The Tiong Hua Chinese Heritage Museum built in 1874, reconstructs some 200 years of the Chinese-community's presence in Johor in the form of historical documents and artifacts.
The Johor Baru Post Office and High Court are also on the walking map but with incomplete records of its structures.
The Istana Besar, the Sultan Abu Bakar Royal Museum and the Zaharah Royal Botanical Gardens, all located in the Istana Besar's compound, are on the map but is currently closed to the public due to its restoration works.
The restoration is being carried out in conjunction with the coronation of the fifth sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar which is scheduled to be held in the Chinese Year of the Horse.
The Red House which was built in the 19th century is available for rent.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
Pre-war monuments in the state are steeped in history and grandeur
There are many pre-war buildings in Johor Baru, that are beautiful, full of history and more importantly still in operation.
Among them is the Broadway Theatre in Jalan Segget.
The cinema is said to be the district's first in the state and started operations in 1930.
However, in the late 90's, it lost its appeal after cineplex's started mushrooming.
Now, under the management of Lotus Five Star, the two-story Broadway Theatre remains in operation but screens only Tamil and Hindi movies.
The Kwong Siew Wai Kuan building along Jalan Siu Nam, was built in 1907, as the headquarters of the Kwong Siew Clan Association. It was established in 1878 by Wong Ah Fook.
Wong was a Chinese-national and an influential entrepreneur who is said to have links with the Johor Sultan.
The building now serves as a museum.
Another building at No 56 along Jalan Tan Hiok Nee is a pre-war shop-house that was built in the 19th century.
Jalan Tan Hiok Nee was declared a heritage street in 2009.
The house with decorative motifs on the walls once belonged to an Indian family and over the years the property ownership changed hands several times.
Today, after restoration works by its present owner, the house named the Red House has been rented out to an organisation as a venue for cultural events.
There is also beautiful arch along Jalan Trus that was recently restored by the Johor Baru City Council's appointed contractors.
There is not much information available on the arch and most of the records are incomplete.
However, United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) Accredited Cultural Heritage guide Jimmy Leong said the arch which is only known as the Jalan Trus Historical Archway was built in the early 19th century.
At that time Jalan Trus used to house the wet market. It was always overflowing with people and was a hive of activity.
There are two other historical archways in Johor Baru besides the one in Jalan Trus. They are located along Jalan Segget and Jalan Tan Hiok Nee.
Leong, 59, whose house used to be where the current Puteri Pacific Hotel stands now, organises heritage trail tours as well.
A Johor Baru Heritage Walk -- "Your Walking Map" has also been created to offer visitors and locals an organised trail to explore and experience first-hand the old but rich history of Johor Baru.
Johor Tourism Department director Mohd Haffiz Ahmad said the walking map was given to locals for free and to tourists as a guide for them to explore the city.
On the map, a brief history of Johor's Maharaja Temenggung Tun Daeng Ibrahim (1810-1862) is also included.
Temenggung Tun Daeng Ibrahim established an administration centre in Tanjung Puteri in 1855, which he renamed Iskandar Puteri in 1862.
He was succeeded by his son Sultan Abu Bakar who changed Tanjung Puteri to Johor Baru in 1966.
Mohd Haffiz said among the 20 attractions are the Sultan Ibrahim Building or Bukit Timbalan which was the state's former administration centre that was built in 1940.
The building's architecture is influenced by colonial and Malay elements.
Johor's administration centre now operates from Kota Iskandar, which is a newly developed area under the Iskandar Malaysia project.
Mohd Haffiz said although the Bank Negara Malaysia along Jalan Bukit Timbalan was built in 1959, and therefore relatively new, it is still on the map.
Johor is the only state in the country with its own military which is known as the Johor Military Force (JMF). The JMF was established in 1885. JMF is also the nation's oldest army.
The Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque, the Church of Immaculate Conception, the Johor Baru Old Chinese Temple, the Gurdwara Sahib and the Sri Raja Mariamman Temple, are among the houses of worship which are on the walking map.
Also on the map is the Johor Baru south district police headquarters, also known as the Johor Baru Central Police Station.
The building was built in 1914, and the old Johor Baru Railway Station was built in 1931.
The colonial-style railway station which is no longer in operation now serves as a museum, exhibiting artifacts used in the locomotive and rail industry.
The Indian Muslim Mosque with two minarets in Jalan Dhoby known as Dato' Haji Ahmad Awang, is also on the map for its unique features, though its historical records are incomplete.
The mosque, with its white washed walls and royal blue-tinted glass windows was built by the Indian Muslim community.
The Tiong Hua Chinese Heritage Museum built in 1874, reconstructs some 200 years of the Chinese-community's presence in Johor in the form of historical documents and artifacts.
The Johor Baru Post Office and High Court are also on the walking map but with incomplete records of its structures.
The Istana Besar, the Sultan Abu Bakar Royal Museum and the Zaharah Royal Botanical Gardens, all located in the Istana Besar's compound, are on the map but is currently closed to the public due to its restoration works.
The restoration is being carried out in conjunction with the coronation of the fifth sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar which is scheduled to be held in the Chinese Year of the Horse.
The Red House which was built in the 19th century is available for rent.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
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