This photograph hangs on the wall in a Gopeng Association House. It is of course of Capitan Chung Ah Kwee. Chung Ah Kwee was born as a Chen Sang Hakka in Guandong Province, China. In his late teens, he was sent to Malaya by his mother, to look for his father and brother. Ah Kwee found his […]
I am sure that all Kinta Valley readers will recognise this bit of heritage that has become a potential horror so close to the Ipoh – Gopeng Trunk Road. Yes, it is Kampong Kepayang and the road is indeed the Gopeng Road up and down which traffic thunders daily. What is more these buildings and […]
This is the S.M. Noor Recreation Park, in Batu Gajah, Perak. This picture was taken from a 1985 Calendar. From what we’ve found out, this place used to be one of the concert venues for local rock bands like Search, Wings, Lefthanded, May, Headwind, and so on. (The other venues around Ipoh being the Indera Mulia […]
This picture was taken a little over a year ago and shows the original accommodation for the tin mining coolies, known as the “Coolie Lines”. Here the coolies would eat and sleep when they were not slaving in the mines or visiting those places of entertainment in the town that provided either female company for […]
“Tin gave Ipoh more millionaires than any other town; it gave her confidence and vibrancy; it gave her a soul” As the author puts it, this book tells the story of “Ipoh’s Golden Age” which present-day folk “take pride in”. Launched yesterday, this book is written by Dr Ho Tak Ming featuring a foreword by Emeritus […]
Known as the Tilley F L 6 Floodlight Projector, this kerosene lamp was used in underground mining in the New Lahat Mine Sdn Bhd during the 20th century. One wonders how did the miners use the lamp, since it looks bigger and heavier, compared to some other oil lamps. This type of lamp dates from before the […]
This is the latest map/brochure published by Myheritage Technovation Sdn Bhd in collaboration with Perak Academy and Kinta Heritage Group. Inside is a basic map of Ipoh Old Town outlining a two-hour heritage trail as well as short write-ups about the 24 heritage buildings on the trail. Also featured is a brief history of Ipoh Town, Panglima Lane (Concubine […]
A member of 2nd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment recorded a night out in the jungle thus: “Leeches that sucked the blood and covered the body were so prevalent one eventually ignored them, it was not unusual to find 50 or more in all parts of the body. Vicious red ants, scorpions and ticks big enough […]
This is a postcard featuring the Memorial Park. In the centre is a fountain, which seems to have attracted the attention of those two individuals on the left of it. On the plaque (centre, bottom) are the words “Memorial Park, 1948-1960”. From this, we understand that this was a remembrance of the Malayan Emergency and those who fell […]
This book is said to be the first official biography of one of Asia’s well-known figures – Eu Tong Sen. Written by Ilsa Sharp, Eu Tong Sen’s story is told based on extentive research. As Sharp herself explains, “This is no ordinary tale of a towkay who just struck it rich”. Our copy of this book […]
This is Ipoh’s Cathay Theatre which still stands to day, but no longer as a cinema having been overtaken by Metroplexes and the like. It was once a beautiful single-screen theatre, built in Cockman Street in late 1956 and opened on August 31, 1957 with the movie, ‘The King and I’, telling the fictitious romantic story of Anna […]
Perak Heritage Society NOTICE (restricted) BRIEFING ON THE TT5 – THE LAST OLD DREDGE OF KINTA why: theStar today highlights the dangerous tilt of the dredge TT5 in Tanjong Tualang, “Perak’s heritage dredge”. Now, national interest is piqued. As the pontoon which floats the dredge is leaking, its private management company is experiencing maintenance and […]
Well he would be in danger if he was to try and take the same photograph today as he was standing in the centre of the Birch Bridge in Brewster Road, but of course in 1952 life was different in Ipoh, Brewster Road took two-way traffic and as you can see the road is almost empty. Compare that […]
‘Limestone Hills & Caves of the Kinta Valley’ is the latest publication by the Malaysian Nature Society. Inside are astonishingly beautiful pictures by Cheang Kum Seng, paying tribute to Mother Nature. Written by SL Wong, this book is a “tribute to that rare beauty [limestone hills and caves]” and at the same time encourages the […]
This photograph was taken around the 14th of January 1953 by Himalaya Photo Studio, of No.117, Brewster Road, Ipoh. On the back of the photograph are Chinese characters which roughly translate to “Yuen Seng to Qing Er, with fond memories”. We guess that this was probably taken after a dance competition – note the trophies […]
