It often turns out that we photograph something in Kuching, and realize its significance only later.

Last year, for example, I posted a vaguely captioned picture of a once-grand house, resplendent with pillars and verandas. Well, it turns out it is one of the Chan houses. You remember the grave of Chua Lian, the first wife of migrant-made-good Chan Kho? The ones whose son Chan Kee Hock was responsible for dozens of Kuching's shophouses? THOSE Chans.

This account, from 2011, tells us that Chan Villa was built in the early 20th century, was acquired by Chan Boon Tho (the son of Chan Kee Hock), and stayed in the Chan family at least up to the time of that article. In its festive heyday, around 30 people called it home, but the cost of restoring it to its former glory would be prohibitive, according to then co-owner Chan K.S.

For a glimpse inside, see here.

Here (and at the top) are some more shots of the house and the little wooded mound it stands on, taken on our walk today:



Last time I also talked about St Joseph's. Neither of us remembers seeing this statue previously, but its environment certainly gives it greater poignancy now:


Another photo -- which we took way back at the beginning of last year, and captioned simply "old railway building" -- subsequently gathered a bit more of a story around itself:


It's the former railway maintenance depot, which is adjacent to the Brooke Dockyard, and once shared a site with the station (demolished in 1965). The Sarawak Government Railway opened in 1915. It had three locomotives, and the day-to-day load consisted of crops and passengers, although "once an ice-chilled train car carried fresh milk from a dairy farm into Kuching". By the beginning of the 1930s, the increasing success of the "mosquito" buses (which the public found cheaper and more convenient) started to undermine the railway service, which closed in 1933 after suffering significant financial losses. The occupying Japanese forces used the railway line to transport passengers, and also to take prisoners to work at the quarries. (Note that this is one of the stories where details vary a lot. See here for slightly different dates and distances -- and for some excellent old photos.)




Just by the arch leading to our favourite street, Jalan Padungan, there's a clock tower that we were so used to seeing that we hadn't even photographed it. Well, it turns out this is Sarawak's first war memorial. Officially inaugurated in 1952, it commemorates all those residents of Sarawak who lost their lives during World War II. Another war memorial was built in 1961, "because the authorities thought that space at Jalan Padungan was too cramped for big parades". But there's a simplicity about this one that's really appealing, I think (and it's recently started to tell the right time again).




It's really hard to find information about Bukit Hantu (Ghost Hill). All I've really tracked down is that it was previously a place where government workers were housed.

We walk this picturesque area reasonably often, and a number of posts have featured ruins and other interesting buildings. Here are a few more:





I wish I knew their stories.

Meanwhile, down by the river, this little sign has appeared. We're not sure what is to follow, but we'll keep you posted: