Kuching Waterfront “The People Place”

Aptly called The People Place, Kuching Waterfront was built for the people of Sarawak and visitors alike. It is their place to enjoy, to entertain and be entertained. A heritage to be proud of, and a legacy to pass on to generations to come. Stretching approximately 1 km, with a riverside walk linking the hotel precinct with downtown Kuching, the Waterfront is 'self-contained' with facilities for entertainment, refreshment, relaxation, cultural enjoyment and arts appreciation. It is also a great place for family gatherings, corporate outings and school and community projects.

Coolies bustling over berthed junks. Hawking of wares, Indian chettiars haggling. Natives selling jungle produce. That was Sarawak River to Kuching. Then time intervened. Sarawak River was not what it used to be. Quietness settled in. The godowns deserted, the merchants shifted.

Thus, Kuching Waterfront was rebuilt to return the frontage to the people. Officially opened in 1993, it spans about 1 km, each step rich in local history and culture.

Structures are preserved. The frame of the amphitheatre was originally part of a godown built in 1929. Other testimonies of this endeavour are the buildings of Sarawak Steamship Company and Chinese Museum.

Tradition radiates from the Chinese Pavillion. Each step of the way is paved with mosaic panels depicting ethnic motifs.

Kuching of by-gone days is revealed on plaques along the promenade floor. Trace the White Rajah’s reign. Read about rebellions. And piracy.

Come evening, see the abstract Hornbill Fountain, and try some of the wide variety of food there.

Awards

1994 - National Project Award in the Civic Design Category
(Awarded by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architecture)

1994 - Merit Award in the Overseas Category
(Awarded by the Royal Australian Institute of Architecture)

1994 - Excellence on the Waterfront/ Waterfront Centre Annual Award
(Awarded by the Waterfront Centre, USA)