KUCHING: The opening of the Brooke Dockyard Industrial Heritage Museum marks a strategic initiative aligned with the 3rd Sarawak Tourism Master Plan.
Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the museum will further enrich Sarawak’s portfolio of tourism destinations.
“Filled with unique and engaging exhibitions, this museum is expected to attract an extraordinary number of visitors, comparable to the impressive record set by the Borneo Cultures Museum.
“We have set an ambitious target to increase tourist arrivals from 4.6 million to 12.7 million, with projected economic returns reaching RM50 billion by 2035.
“Through the core of Sustainable and Responsible Tourism, we aim to nurture the social fabric of society by promoting heritage preservation, encouraging cultural sharing, and stimulating scientific, data-driven thinking,” he said in his welcoming address at the museum’s launch here on Monday (Apr 20).
He noted that records from The Sarawak Gazette dated Jun 1, 1912 highlight a significant moment in the region’s development.
Exactly 114 years ago, on the afternoon of May 31, 1912, the riverbank witnessed a major milestone when Charles Vyner Brooke and Sylvia Brett travelled from the Astana upriver to the dockyard entrance.
Following the sounding of a signal, the dock gates were opened and the royal couple proceeded to the main platform, where the Brooke Dockyard was officially declared open.
The dockyard became a key maritime hub in the region.
Today, Abdul Karim, said the Brooke Dockyard Industrial Heritage Museum showcases heavy machinery and equipment once used in daily operations, along with unique engineering structures found in a dry dock.
Among its key attractions is a replica of the His Highness Yacht (HHY) Zahora, symbolising the grandeur of the Brooke administration era.
“The transformation of the dockyard into an industrial heritage museum was carried out in phases from 2020 to 2025, involving a total cost of approximately RM46.7 million.
“This reflects the Sarawak government’s strong commitment to preserving its historical and industrial heritage,” said Abdul Karim.
Through this transformation Brooke Dockyard, Malaysia’s oldest and most iconic shipyard, has evolved from an industrial site into a living archive showcasing the impact of the Industrial Revolution in Sarawak.
Abdul Karim expressed confidence that the museum will enhance heritage conservation efforts, strengthen the state’s tourism ecosystem, and serve as a platform to promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education for future generations.
