Fort Margherita

This article is about the fort in Sarawak, Malaysia. For the fortification in Malta, see Santa Margherita Lines.

Fort Margherita
Fort Margherita - the main tower
General information
Status	Complete
Type	Fort
Location	Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
Coordinates
Construction started	unknown
Completed	1879
Owner	Sarawak state government
Technical details
Floor count	3

Fort Margherita was erected by Rajah Charles and named after his wife, the Ranee Margaret.

Fort Margherita is an old fort built in 1879 by Charles Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak situated in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. The fort is an important landmark and monument in Sarawak's history which goes back to the Brooke Dynasty. The fort, built in the style of an English castle, was designed to protect Kuching from attack by pirates. It served as a Police Museum from 1971 before being handed over to the Sarawak state government and now is a tourist attraction in Kuching.

Fort Margherita is named after Brooke's beloved wife, Margaret Alice Lili de Windt, whom he married at Highworth, Wiltshire on 28 October 1869; she was raised to the title of Ranee of Sarawak with the style of Her Highness upon their marriage.

The fort was built on a hill overlooking the Sarawak River and situated on the north bank opposite the then fast expanding town centre of Kuching. The fort was well equipped to protect the capital from river-borne invasions.

The three-storey tower block's battlement includes a watchpoint on top, a courtyard surrounded by a high wall with sharp glass shards inlaid for protection, and set into the wall itself are wooden windows from where the cannons were fired. Executions of prisoners were carried out in this courtyard, right up to the Japanese occupation during World War II.

Fort Margherita is situated across the Sarawak River near The Astana, the official residence of the yang DiPertua Negeri Sarawak. Fort Margherita is accessible by road. It is a 15-minute drive along Petra Jaya, or a short river cruise from Pangkalan Batu, in front of Main Bazaar on Kuching Waterfront. It currently sits next to the New Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Building.