Tucked away behind overgrowth and nearly forgotten by time, Kuching’s Old Nurses’ Quarters is more than just a decaying post-war structure—it’s a rare window into Sarawak’s architectural, social, and healthcare history. As calls for its preservation grow, this quietly dignified building prompts a deeper reflection on what progress truly means.
Why the Old Nurses’ Quarters matter
IN our rapidly evolving urban landscapes, modern development is often seen as a sign of progress. Yet each new structure also prompts an important question. What are we leaving behind, and what deserves to be preserved?
Heritage buildings carry more than historical value. They represent distinct architectural styles, pay homage to the people who once lived and worked within them, and reflect the values and identity of the communities they served. Preserving these structures is not about resisting change. It is about anchoring ourselves to our roots while moving forward.
One such building in Kuching that is quietly drawing renewed attention is the old Nurses’ Quarters, built in the late 1940s, just after the war. Tucked away and long overlooked, this understated structure has become the centre of a growing debate.
Should it be restored, or cleared away for redevelopment? At the heart of the conversation lies a more profound question. What kind of legacy do we wish to leave behind?
If walls could talk
The Nurses Quarters is a forgotten gem, shrouded in overgrowth and the quiet dignity of time. Once a bustling residence, it was home to generations of nurses who trained and served in Sarawak. These women left behind families and rural lives to answer a noble calling that shaped the state’s healthcare system.
Architecturally, the building is a fine example of post-war colonial design, thoughtfully adapted to Borneo’s tropical climate.
Features such as concrete floor-level vents, delicately patterned breezeway windows, and timber ventilation panels above doors are all testaments to a pre-air-conditioning era where design and climate coexisted harmoniously.
The front porch still showcases elegant archways, while inside, heavy timber-and-glass fold-and-slide doors open to reveal a carved wooden staircase with its handrail worn smooth by decades of use. Upstairs, a large common area once hosted lively social gatherings, remembered fondly in archival black-and-white photographs that tell stories of community and camaraderie.
Built to last
The layout reflects a symmetrical sensibility typical of British colonial architecture. Two mirrored floors are separated by a thick concrete slab, which helped cool the rooms below. Bedrooms overlook Crookshank Road, with views stretching toward the nearby Sarawak General Hospital. At the rear, a garden courtyard offered a quiet, leafy sanctuary from the buzz of the city.
Step into the bedrooms and you are transported back in time. Solid timber bed frames remain, along with built-in wardrobes whose drawers still glide open — without modern hardware. Dual-layered windows feature wooden shutters on the outside and mosquito-netted frames on the inside. Wire grid panels line the corridors, sheltered from the elements by generous roof overhangs.
The shared bathrooms which were standard in that era retain original fixtures, including made-in-England toilet bowls and square-tiled water troughs once used to scoop cold water for bathing. It is a humbling glimpse into the everyday lives of those who lived there.
Toward the rear, concrete staircases with plastered brickwork railings connect the levels. On the ground floor, solid wood writing desks remain in rooms believed to have served as administrative offices. Every detail, from the steep pitched roof to the decorative timber elements, speaks to a thoughtful balance of form and function.
Why it matters
What makes the Old Nurses’ Quarters (ONQ) worth conserving?
Retired architect Colin MacGillivray offers this insight: “It’s a prime example of high-quality post-1945 concrete construction.”
He references John Ting’s The History of Architecture in Sarawak Before Malaysia, which highlights essential features of good design in our climate “maximising fenestration with louvred glass windows between structural bays for cross ventilation, deep eaves (five feet at the ONQ), and concrete ledges for sun shading and rain protection.”
Preserving with purpose
When it comes to balancing historical integrity with modern functionality, Colin believes thoughtful updates can work, so long as the building’s soul is preserved.
“The exterior should remain exactly as it was, if possible,” he says, adding that Interior improvements are acceptable, provided the ‘feel’ of the place is retained. Plans to install en-suite bathrooms in place of shared facilities, for instance, are welcomed, so long as original cement floors, louvred windows, and decorative ventilation screens are retained.
A living legacy
British colonial buildings across Southeast Asia were designed with local climates in mind. High ceilings, wide verandas, deep roof overhangs, and smart passive ventilation systems made them comfortable and functional. The Nurses Quarters exemplifies these design principles.
A 2024 museum report confirmed that the bricks used date back to British colonial times. Historical records from the Sarawak Gazette trace its origins to 1946, with extensions added in 1949 and 1953.
Today, calls for its preservation are growing louder. Former nurses, the Sarawak Heritage Society, and local advocates are urging the state to conserve this 80-year-old “grand matron.” Restoring it would not only safeguard a unique architectural gem but also honour the legacy of generations of healthcare workers who shaped modern Sarawak.
The case for adaptive reuse
Preservation does not mean freezing a building in time. Adaptive reuse, a sustainable approach to conservation, can breathe new life into old structures by repurposing them for modern use. It reduces demolition waste, cuts costs, and revitalizes communities without erasing their history.
Most importantly, it allows stories to live on. Heritage buildings are more than bricks and mortar. They are living archives of who we were and where we have been.
As debates around urban development continue, perhaps the question is not whether to preserve buildings like the old Nurses’ Quarters, but how best to honour their legacy while allowing them to evolve.
Because once gone, they are gone forever.
The ONQ deserves urgent gazettement not as an obstacle to development but as a foundation for a more inclusive, historically aware future in Sarawak.
