Restoration of Kuching old nurses' quarters as heritage site

Borneo Post

02-05-2025

An archive photo of the Sarawak government nurses' quarters, shortly after it was built in the 1940s.
ON March 20, 2025, an official statement by Deputy Sarawak Secretary (Economic Planning and Development) Dato Sri Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel had announced that after considering the historical significance of the old nurses' quarters, sited at Jalan Tun Openg in Kuching, the state government had agreed to preserve the main structure of this building.
This decision was made following a community-based approach where public feedback was considered.
The Sarawak Heritage Society (SHS) had championed the heritage conservation, and had also conducted a public petition which was strongly supported by many.
The implementation of this restoration will be under the ambit of the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP).
The location was initially identified as a key location for the Kuching flood mitigation project due to its position on low-lying land—the proposed retention pond will now be relocated to a new site in the southeast section, subject to the approval from state planning authorities.
The intention is to restore the old nurses quarters to its former condition.
It will then be used and repurposed for folks from the rural areas and upcountry regions as well as from outstation—those family members for patients who are being treated at the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH), situated just across the road; a short walk via an overhead bridge.
Sabati, a group comprising the wives of Sarawak politicians, are also involved by way of the 'Anjung Kasih' programme. This humane service provides facilities like accommodation and care for deserving groups while looking out for their hospitalised family members.
According to a retired architect/consultant, the old nurses' quarters building is in an excellent condition structurally.
It was built in the early 1940s by the British with reinforced concrete structures on very sound solid foundations.
There are no cracks visible anywhere. The walls are double bricked and it keeps the building cool naturally without any air-conditioning; it is very well ventilated too.
The total built-up area of the building on the two levels measures 1,989 square metres, or 21,400 square feet. An additional space measuring 2370 square feet (220 square metres) is only one storey—this formerly covered the kitchen and dining areas.
As it is now structured, there are 52 guest rooms including four single rooms. There is a hall for communal use and relaxation located on each level; both face the main road junction on the north-west side.
A relatively recent photo of the historical nurses' quarters at the junction of Jalan Crookshank and‬‭ Jalan‬‭ Tun‬‭ Abang‬‭ Haji‬‭ Openg‬‭ in Kuching.
The single storey part of the building on the ground floor would house the dining area, kitchen and staff accommodation.
In addition to these are a self-service launderette, a prayer room, and obviously, other facilities can be planned and provided.
One of the best features of such an old colonial-time building meant for residential purposes was that they were all designed for natural, cross flow-air ventilation everywhere; as such for its planned purpose, no air-conditioning is necessary but obviously would be the norm nowadays.
The same retired architect friend, who had personally been onsite and viewed the old nurses' quarters himself, commented on the sound structure of the building itself and was confident that a full and complete restoration to its former glory could be successfully carried out within a period of 12 months on a budget of RM3 million based on repairs, replacements and refurbishing.
Obviously if other factors are involved as to the addition of rooms and inclusion of items like lifts, air-conditioning and special equipment or furniture, all those would involve extra costs.
Personally I have seen from experience that such restoration projects in the past, which had involved more than one government agency, ministry or department, would almost always get bogged down by the sheer weight of bureaucracy, paperwork and all sorts of other excuses and reasons.
The favourite 'go-to' responses when queried after a certain project gets delayed or stalled would be: 'There's not enough budget'; 'We overspent the original budget'; 'Couldn't meet the fire hazard conditions'; 'The contractor / sub-con went bust'; '(Prices of) raw materials had increased so fast we could not make a profit,' and 'We had a labour shortage.'
As we are all aware, such excuses are really a dime a dozen here.
In my view—and definitely in my retired architect-friend's view—the old nurses' quarters' restoration project is clear-cut, straightforward with no unseen nor expected complications to arise thereof from.
The budget is straightforward and definitely within the means of whichever ministry it might eventually be 'gifted' to: at the moment, it is the Ministry of Tourism.
All that's needed is the will and the passion to see it through: both of which is already there with the SHS backing it all the way.
A recently-taken interior shot of the front open space, with the point-of-view looking out of the communal room area at old nurses' quarters. — Photo courtesy Colin Macgillivray
As the president of SHS, Datin Rosemarie Wong-Jabu said in her Facebook page on March 20, 2025: 'A first win for Sarawak Heritage Society—to conserve and preserve the Old Nurses' Quarters, Kuching!'
She then thanked a long list of those in the Sarawak government, starting from the Premier himself and finishing off with all those who had helped in one way or another along the way.
Most of all, she had also mentioned those who had volunteered their personal time, effort, special skill sets; as these are the people who were and will be instrumental 'behind the scenes' whom I must also place on record here too: 'Thank you also to the 2,818 of our petition supporters from near and far.
'Thank you to all the former nurses for your invaluable insights through interviews with Mr James SL Yong & Ms Priscilla Tawie.
'Special mention to Mr Colin Macgillivray, Mr Mike Cannon, members of SHS, Sarawak Photo-Art Society, friends of the media and fellow Sarawakians whose unwavering support and encouraging comments to save this significant building…without all of us coming together, this would not have been possible. THANK YOU!'
Now, all that we can do is to await the fruition and completion and of course the future launching of the old nurses' quarters as a repurposed and living heritage building—hopefully next May?
* The opinions expressed in this article are the columnist's own and do not reflect the view of the newspaper. conservation historical Kuching old nurses' quarters