The beautiful Loke Mansions Rescued from the brink of dereliction by the law firm Cheang & Ariff, Loke Mansion was once the home of self-made tin tycoon Loke Yew, although the original part of the structure was built in the 1860s by another rich merchant, Cheow Ah Yeok. The Japanese high command also set up base here in 1942. Wong Loke Yew, a famous Chinese born businessman and philanthropist in British Malaya who after leaving China and arriving in Singapore dropped his surname Wong. Loke Yew was considered one of the richest men in British Malaya of his time and played a significant role in the development of Kuala Lumpur. Loke Yew commenced the building of Loke Mansion in 1892 and completed it over a period of twelve years. He purchased the residence from Cheow Ah Yoke, a leader of the Cantonese community who had made his fortune in the tin mining industry. One interesting feature of the building is the Ching Dynasty painted gate which has been incorporated into the rear part of the mansion. The Cheow home was built between 1860 and 1862 and originally consisted of an estate of 11 acres. This has now dwindled to a mere 1.5 acres. The stables, coach houses and servants’ quarters having been sold off in 1963 and have since been demolished and replaced by office buildings. Location: 273, Jalan Medan Tuanku, Kuala Lumpur. (**Access to the interior is by appointment only, but visitors can stand at the driveway for photographs and admire the whitewashed exterior.)
Posted on: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 02:59:48 +0000
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