Belitung – On his first working visit to Belitung Island, the acting governor of Kepulauan Bangka Belitung Suganda Pandapotan Pasaribu stayed in Tuan Kuase house. It was told it was the first house built in Tanjung Pendam district and used by Dutch administration officials when they ruled the island known for its tin mining. Therefore, the building known as Bougenville House witnessed the era of Dutch administration on the island.
Built in 1862 by Jhon F. Londen, it is located right across Tanjung Pendam beach in Melati Street, Tanjung Pandan, Belitung. It has a relaxing shady large yard with trees.
The Dutch architecture house has been inaugurated as one of the cultural heritage buildings in Tanjung Pandan. The interior of it is full of colonial architecture with its ornament including doors and windows.
Referred to Dutch as Hoofadministrateur, the 1,99 ha house has 10 bedrooms and front and back yards. It was the official house head of the Belitung tin mining unit.
It has been listed as one of the cultural heritage buildings since 2000. It was managed by the provincial government of Kepulauan Bangka Belitung in 2004 and functioned as a kind of lodging house for its on-duty employees on the island.
Pandapotan instructed to immediately renovate the house.
“Renovate it right away. It’s inhabitable. Moreover, we need to keep a historical building. I hope the general affairs bureau can hold an auction for renovation expenses. Of course, we need to ask for recommendations first from Jambi Cultural Preservation Centre. (Randi/SAS/ZE)
