Brooke Gallery at Fort Margherita
Photo: Graystravels · CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Brooke Gallery at Fort Margherita in Kuching, Malaysia — the Brooke Gallery tells the century-long story of Sarawak's White Rajahs inside Fort Margherita, the castle-like 1879 fort on the north bank of the Sarawak River opposite Kuching's Main Bazaar. Open daily, 9:00 AM – 4:45 PM, including public holidays. Admission: RM10 for local visitors; RM20 for international visitors (Explorer Pass with the Ranee Museum: RM15 local, RM30 international). Allow 1 hour.
Visitor information last reviewed 22 October 2026. Check the official museum site for current details.
Brooke Gallery at Fort Margherita at a glance: hours, tickets and time needed
| Opening hours | Daily: 9:00 AM – 4:45 PM, including public holidays |
|---|---|
| Admission | RM10 for local visitors; RM20 for international visitors (Explorer Pass with the Ranee Museum: RM15 local, RM30 international) |
| Free or reduced entry | Children under 7 free · Concession tickets RM5 (eligible groups not published online) · Explorer Pass covering the Ranee Museum: RM15 local, RM30 international |
| Booking | Tickets usually available on the day |
| Time needed | 1 hour |
| Best time to visit | Mornings, before the heat, and by early afternoon if you also want the Ranee Museum on the Explorer Pass. |
| Getting there | Boat: Penambang water taxi across the Sarawak River from the Kuching Waterfront jetties on the south bank, then walk up to the fort on its hill |
| Address | Fort Margherita, Petra Jaya, 93050 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia |
| Official website | brooketrust.org |
Checked 2026-10-22 against the official website. Prices and hours change — confirm before you travel.
What is Brooke Gallery at Fort Margherita known for?
Fort Margherita stands on a promontory on the north bank of the Sarawak River, facing Kuching's Main Bazaar. The second Rajah, Charles Brooke, completed it in 1879 at a cost of 8,100 Sarawak dollars and named it after his wife, Ranee Margaret. Built in the style of an English castle to guard the river approach against pirates, it has three storeys, a battlemented watchtower and a courtyard enclosed by a high wall topped with embedded glass shards. Sarawak Tourism notes that the only attack it ever faced came from the air, when Japanese aircraft bombed Kuching on 19 December 1941.
The fort housed a police museum from 1971 before being handed back to the Sarawak government. After restoration by the National Heritage Department it was returned to the Sarawak Museum Department, and the Brooke Gallery opened inside on 24 September 2016, the 175th anniversary of the founding of the state, officiated by the then Deputy Chief Minister, Abang Johari Tun Openg. The gallery is a joint project with the Brooke Heritage Trust, which developed the story with the museum, lent artefacts from the Brooke family's collection and sponsored the exhibition, with volunteers from Sarawak, the United Kingdom and Australia.
The displays follow a century of Brooke rule through the people, places and events that shaped Sarawak: James Brooke's arrival in his yacht Royalist in August 1839, the start of Brooke rule in September 1841, the Japanese invasion of December 1941, annexation as a British Crown Colony in July 1946 and Sarawak's part in forming Malaysia in September 1963. Brooke family belongings are shown alongside historical documents, artefacts and art, including a portrait of the Skrang warlord Rentap by local artist Alena Murang. The old Sarawak coat of arms marks the fort's entrance.
The gallery opens daily, including public holidays, from 9:00 AM to 4:45 PM. Tickets cost RM10 for local visitors and RM20 for international visitors, with RM5 concessions and free entry for children under seven; an Explorer Pass for RM15 (local) or RM30 (international) also covers the Ranee Museum in the Old Court House across the river. Sarawak Tourism recommends crossing by penambang water taxi from the Waterfront jetties on the south bank; by road the fort is about 15 minutes' drive through Petra Jaya. It sits near the Astana and the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly building.
Best for: History Enthusiasts · Architecture Enthusiasts · Photographers
What are the must-see works at Brooke Gallery at Fort Margherita?
4 highlights that define the collection: Portrait of Rentap, Brooke family belongings, Battlemented watchtower and more.
Portrait of Rentap
Alena Murang · painted for the gallery
📍 Brooke Gallery
A portrait of the Skrang warlord Rentap, who fought the Brookes in the 1850s; Sarawak Tourism describes him as a hero to some and a villain to others.
Brooke family belongings
Lent by the Brooke Heritage Trust
📍 Brooke Gallery
Personal belongings and artefacts from the Brooke family's collection, shown with historical documents and art from the White Rajahs' century in Sarawak.
Battlemented watchtower
Fort Margherita · 1879
📍 Fort Margherita
The fort's three-storey English castle-style tower, with a watch post on top built to spot vessels approaching Kuching along the Sarawak River.
Old Sarawak coat of arms
Brooke-era state emblem
📍 Fort entrance
The old Sarawak coat of arms displayed at the entrance to Fort Margherita, a reminder of the state's status as a kingdom under the Brookes.
Collections and highlights
- • History of the Brooke era, 1839–1946
- • Brooke family belongings and artefacts
- • Historical documents and art of the White Rajahs period
- • Contemporary portrait of Rentap by Alena Murang
- • The 1879 fort: tower, courtyard and cannon embrasures
Tips for visiting Brooke Gallery at Fort Margherita
- 1.
Best time to visit
Mornings, before the heat, and by early afternoon if you also want the Ranee Museum on the Explorer Pass. Both museums open daily, including public holidays, until 4:45 PM.
- 2.
Tickets & booking
No online booking is offered: tickets are RM10 local, RM20 international, RM5 concession, under-7s free. School and tour groups are welcome; contact [email protected] to arrange a group visit.
- 3.
Accessibility
No accessibility information is published. The 1879 fort has three storeys and stands on a rise above the river, so expect steps and a short climb; email the gallery before visiting.
- 4.
Photography rules
No photography policy is published. Ask before photographing documents and loaned family items, avoid flash, and photograph the tower and river views freely from the grounds.
How do you get to Brooke Gallery at Fort Margherita?
- boat Penambang water taxi across the Sarawak River from the Kuching Waterfront jetties on the south bank, then walk up to the fort on its hill
- taxi Grab or taxi to Fort Margherita in Petra Jaya, about 15 minutes by road from the city centre
Address: Fort Margherita, Petra Jaya, 93050 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
Sources we checked
Visitor facts and history on this page come from these sources, checked on the dates shown.
- Brooke Museums | The Rajahs of Sarawak — Brooke Museums (Brooke Heritage Trust), checked 22 October 2026
- The Brooke Gallery | Brooke Heritage Trust — Brooke Heritage Trust, checked 22 October 2026
- Brooke Gallery opens at Fort Margherita (Borneo Post, 25 Sep 2016) — The Borneo Post, checked 22 October 2026
- Fort Margherita (Sarawak Tourism, archived 2019) — Sarawak Tourism Board, checked 22 October 2026
- Old Kuching Heritage Trail (archived 2019) — Sarawak Tourism Board, checked 22 October 2026
- Fort Margherita – Sarawak's bastion of protection (New Sarawak Tribune, 2018) — New Sarawak Tribune, checked 22 October 2026
- Brooke Gallery a permanent storytelling exhibition (The Star, 28 Sep 2016) — The Star, checked 22 October 2026
- Fort Margherita — Wikipedia, checked 22 October 2026
- Fort Margherita (Q2007681) — Wikidata, checked 22 October 2026
Brooke Gallery at Fort Margherita: frequently asked questions
How much is the entrance fee for the Brooke Gallery?
Brooke Museums, the Brooke Heritage Trust's visitor site, lists tickets at RM10 for local visitors and RM20 for international ('global') visitors, with RM5 concession tickets and free entry for children under seven. It does not say who qualifies for the concession rate. An Explorer Pass for both Brooke museums, the Brooke Gallery and the Ranee Museum, costs RM15 for locals and RM30 for international visitors.
Where is the Brooke Gallery and how do I get there?
The gallery is inside Fort Margherita in Petra Jaya, on a promontory on the north bank of the Sarawak River facing Kuching's Main Bazaar. The most direct route is a penambang water taxi from one of the Kuching Waterfront jetties on the south bank, then walk up to the fort on its hill. By road it is roughly a 15-minute drive through Petra Jaya by car, Grab or taxi.
How long should I spend at the Brooke Gallery?
Plan 1 hour for the highlights of Brooke Gallery at Fort Margherita. Add extra time for temporary exhibitions, the shop and the café.
What are the highlights of the Brooke Gallery?
The displays trace the Brooke era from James Brooke's arrival in his yacht Royalist in 1839 to the Japanese invasion of 1941, cession to Britain in 1946 and Malaysia in 1963, using Brooke family belongings lent by the Brooke Heritage Trust, documents and art. Sarawak Tourism highlights a portrait of the Skrang warlord Rentap by local artist Alena Murang, and the old Sarawak coat of arms marks the fort's entrance.
Can I take photos inside the Brooke Gallery?
No photography policy is published on the Brooke Museums website. Follow any signs, ask staff before photographing documents or loaned family items, and avoid flash. The white castle-style fort, its battlemented tower and the views back across the river to the Waterfront are popular subjects from the grounds.
Can I visit the Brooke Gallery and the Ranee Museum on one ticket?
Yes. Both are run as Brooke Museums, and the Explorer Pass covers the Brooke Gallery at Fort Margherita and the Ranee Museum in Block D of the Old Court House on Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg. It costs RM15 for local and RM30 for international visitors. Both open daily, including public holidays, from 9:00 AM to 4:45 PM, so start by early afternoon to fit in the river crossing.
Why is it called Fort Margherita?
The second Rajah, Charles Brooke, completed the fort in 1879 and named it after his wife, Ranee Margaret. It was built to guard the river approach to Kuching against pirates; Sarawak Tourism says a cannon was once fired from it every evening to mark the end of the government working day, and that the only attack it faced came from the air, when Japanese aircraft bombed Kuching on 19 December 1941.
Is Brooke Gallery at Fort Margherita open on Mondays?
Yes — Brooke Gallery at Fort Margherita is open every day of the week, including Mondays and Sundays: 9:00 AM – 4:45 PM, including public holidays. Check the official website for holiday hours.
What are Brooke Gallery at Fort Margherita's opening hours?
Brooke Gallery at Fort Margherita is open daily, 9:00 AM – 4:45 PM, including public holidays. Hours can change for holidays and events, so check the official website before you go.
Is Brooke Gallery at Fort Margherita free to visit?
Not for everyone. Standard admission: RM10 for local visitors; RM20 for international visitors (Explorer Pass with the Ranee Museum: RM15 local, RM30 international). Free or reduced entry: Children under 7 free; Concession tickets RM5 (eligible groups not published online); Explorer Pass covering the Ranee Museum: RM15 local, RM30 international.
