Fort Margherita

Fort Margherita sits on the north bank of the Sarawak River, directly opposite the waterfront, accessible by bumboat in three minutes. The white-painted fort with its crenellated towers is one of the most recognisable images of Kuching — you see it from the waterfront esplanade throughout your time in the city. It is in excellent condition, having been carefully maintained as a historic site.

The fort houses a small police museum with colonial-era artefacts and documents. The real draw is the fort itself and the views from its walls: looking south across the river to the waterfront and the city, you get the same perspective the Brooke sentries had when keeping watch over the trading boats. The Astana — the White Rajahs' palace — is a short walk away along the north bank path.

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A story
Fort Margherita was built in 1879 and named after Margaret de Windt, wife of the second White Rajah Charles Brooke. It was designed primarily to guard against piracy — the Sarawak River was a major trading artery and pirate raids from the interior had been a persistent threat throughout the early Brooke period. The fort's cannon were never actually fired in anger; its purpose appears to have been deterrence rather than combat.