The plaque above, taken in 2019, is a proclaimation announcing the gazetting the Rumah Dato’ Ja’afar, a mansion once used by the 1st Menteri Besar of the State of Johor, Dato Ja’afar bin Muhammad, as a building of heritage under the National Heritage Act of 2005.
Located at Bukit Senyum, Johor Bahru, the mansion was built in 1893 and completed in 1896, with the mansion’s design influenced by Matlock Castle as well as Hardwick Hall, both of which are located in Derbyshire, England.
Upon the passing of Dato’ Ja’afar Muhammad in 1919, ownership of the mansion reverted to the State of Johor and has been used during the intermittent years by the Japanese occupation forces, the British colonial administrators and was even once converted as a teachers’ training college.
Today, it is today a museum dedicated to the many personalities from the State of Johor, who have risen to prominence through their contributions in the many and different fields of economics, commerce, fine arts, politics et al, befitting its status and heritage.
(Images from Shah Said ; @ all rights reserved ; 2021)
SHAH'S PHOTOGRAPHY 