The Astana, Sarawak

This article is about palace in Sarawak. For capital of Kazakhstan, see Astana.

Astana
Front view of the building from Kuching Waterfront
General information
Status	Complete
Type	Governor's residence
Location	Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
Coordinates	1°33′49″N 110°20′44″E / 1.56361°N 110.34556°E / 1.56361; 110.34556Coordinates: 1°33′49″N 110°20′44″E / 1.56361°N 110.34556°E / 1.56361; 110.34556
Completed	1870
Technical details
Lifts/elevators	Unknown

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'.^[1] 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 reach by a boat ride across the Sarawak River.

History

The Astana, Sarawak, c. 1896.

The Governor's office in 1959

Front view of Astana in 1959

Ranee's bedroom in 1959

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 arrived in Sarawak in 1870, and the royal couple then occupied The Astana as their main home.^[2] She later reminisced about life in The Astana and colonial Borneo in her memoir My Life in Sarawak, which was published in 1913.

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.

Architecture

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.

The Astana has since undergone major renovations and alterations befitting it as the official residence of the Governor of Sarawak.

Gallery

The Governor's bedroom in 1959

The dining room in 1959

Looking across the Sarawak river from Astana tower in 1959

Mount Santubong and backyard of Astana in 1959

View of Astana from the main gate

The Astana at night

View of Astana from the Sarawak river

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Astana, Sarawak.

Colonial architecture of Malaysia

British	All Saints' Church All Souls' Church Atkinson Clock Tower Church of the Assumption Church of the Immaculate Conception Church of the Risen Christ City Hall Coliseum Theatre Fort Cornwallis Fort Hose Fort Margherita Fort Sylvia Holy Spirit Cathedral Jubilee Clock Tower Kellie's Castle Kinarut Mansion Labuan Chimney Labuan Clock Tower Malacca Light Malay and Islamic World Museum National Textile Museum One Fathom Bank Lighthouse Pisang Island Lighthouse Undan Island Lighthouse Sacred Heart Cathedral, Kota Kinabalu Sacred Heart Cathedral, Sibu Sarawak State Museum St. Anne's Church St. George's Church St. John's Cathedral St. Mary's Cathedral St. Michael's Church, Penampang St. Michael's and All Angels Church, Sandakan Suffolk House The Astana

Dutch	Christ Church Dutch Fort Governor's Museum Malaysia Architecture Museum Proclamation of Independence Memorial Stadthuys St. John's Fort St. Peter's Church

French	Church of St. Francis Xavier

Portuguese	A Famosa Cape Rachado Lighthouse St. Paul's Church

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