The buiding in white is called the 'Square Tower' built in 1879 and is located within the Kuching waterfront area. Of all the towns in Sarawak, Kuching has the most beautiful and a very sizeable collection of well preserved colonial buildings. From middle of the 19th century ( 1842) to late 20th century (1963) Kuching and progressively other towns in Sarawak were ruled and administered by the British. Many permanent buildings constructed then are still standing and in good shape even today. The Square Tower is one of them.
Today, the Square Tower has a gallery located on the first floor showcasing a brief history of Kuching waterfront area and the elaborate designs of the native peoples of Sarawak.
The ground floor space is taken up by a souvenier shop and a beautifully designed cafe.
This is how the Square Tower looked in the good old days when it was first used as a place for detention of prisoners, then as a fort and finally a dancing hall.
The Main Bazaar street in Kuching is the focus of visitors and tourists to this historical city. The traditional shoplots built during the Brooke's and later colonial days still retain their old charm. In some quarters of the city can be seen tinsmiths who continue to upheld their trade in earnest. They continue to carry on with this specialised trade in shophouses for many generations.
