By ABANG FARID ABANG TAHA
KUCHING: In the centre of Kuching lies a remnant of the past, representing an important heritage icon built by Chinese settlers to accommodate various clans of the Kuching Chinese Association during their migration to Sarawak.
A 145-year-old street known as Carpenter Street is one of the attractions found here, and the survival of this precinct is preserved amidst changes throughout the city.
In 2006, the Sarawak Heritage Society’s (SHS) effort to preserve this important street for the youths of Sarawak was declared official.
Although conservation efforts have been put in place to preserve its history, it is clear that modernisation is setting in.
In the old days, the majority of owners of the shops were Chinese but today, other races have settled here.
Most were goldsmiths, tinsmiths and blacksmiths while some were in the apothecary, souvenir, antique and grocery business back then.
Locals now prefer to go to the many malls that dot the city landscape but Carpenter Street still draws people there, usually tourists.
Businesses from the old days here are either moving to a more profitable location or being sold off as modernisation creeps in.
Many shop lots have been transformed into pubs and bistros, bars, bed and breakfast establishments, cafes, art galleries and so on by new owners.
This change has created a new kind of attraction to the street as it experienced a sort of business revival in the area, especially in the tourism industry.
Taking a stroll in the Carpenter Street precinct, New Sarawak Tribune dropped into one of the many new business ventures here ̶ Indah Cafe.
Cafe supervisor Lucian said: “This area, during the colonial era, was a dock for trading companies before it became famous for its blacksmith, goldsmith, silversmith, tinsmith businesses.”
“These days, as you can see, the centre of town is becoming more of a tourist hub.
“The food industry here is an attraction for tourists. The bed and breakfast sector accommodates travellers all year round.
“We have tourists from Singapore, China, Europe and so on. A lot of the old businesses in this area are dying out…being replaced by the tourism business,” he explained.
“As progress seeps in, a lot of shop owners are changing businesses. We didn’t target them by choice, we started as an art gallery here. During that time they weren’t much appreciation for Sarawak art among locals.”
He elaborated: “Art is a major draw for tourists as they come here wanting to learn the culture, tradition and arts of Sarawak. As this street is always crowded with travellers, we decided to start a cafe here.”
“From there, business was booming so we needed more funding to continue.
“When we first started to accommodate travellers as a lodge, it was a bliss. We do have our regulars. Usually it’s seasonal as we do have tourism activities in July as the state holds the rainforest festival annually and the whole street is overbooked,” said Lucian.
