Why Murray House is a Must-Visit Heritage Site in Hong Kong
A colonial era masterpiece boasting a history of well over 175 years, the iconic Murray House in Stanley, Hong Kong is truly a sight for sore eyes. Though currently found in a different location than when it first saw the light of day, Murray House represents an important chapter in Hong Kong’s culture and here is what you can expect to uncover by visiting this historic setting.
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Origins of Murray House
Stanley’s Murray House comes across as a restored edifice of Victorian times that initially was established in the year 1844. The building was named after a British politician and soldier, Sir George Murray (1772-1846), while the architecture and construction of Murray House were overseen by Lieutenant Collinson and Major Aldrich who were part of the Royal Engineers. Its sole purpose was to operate as barracks of the British military; a goal which was successfully achieved while being a part of the Victoria Barracks till the 1960s. Thereafter, it rose to prominence as an administrative centre in Hong Kong’s Central region, where it found a permanent home in the current Bank of China tower up until the 1980s.
Grand architecture
Portraying the attributes of early colonial architecture, Murray House stands testament to ancient schools of thought and design flair. Notably, Western ionic columns beautify a greater part of this attraction, while its Chinese red-tiled roofs are a feature that as a visitor, you will not be too far away from. Impressive verandahs can easily be caught sight of as you commence touring this cultural jewel. Amongst its major talking points is the fact that it consists of 3 storeys and is hewn purely out of solid granite. Furthermore, an arched façade adds to the spectacle, which has led to it becoming one of the finest cultural attractions in Hong Kong that you should be including in your bucket list.
Relocation and restoration
As a result of the economic development that began sweeping through Hong Kong, Murray House was dismantled in order to make way for the Bank of China tower. The process was approached and completed meticulously with as many as 3,000 pieces of the building’s original structure carefully labelled for what was to soon transpire. The said efforts that commenced in 1982 would take up to 17 years to complete. Presently, Murray House, which is located some 11.7 km from Cosmo Hotel Hong Kong can be reached by visiting the picturesque Stanley Waterfront Mart; a sought-after meeting point for leisure travellers and passionate fans of retail therapy. However, the overall composition of Murray House is in stark contrast to its former self. This is because some portions of this heritage building were not included when restoration efforts started taking shape. For instance, the flagpole located at the entrance to Murray House was recovered from the battleship known as HMS Tamar that served during the 2nd World War. Also, the chimneys were installed from another building in the vicinity of Sai Ying Pun while the columns are believed to have been transported from a local residential district called Yau Ma Tei.
Ways to maximise your time at Murray House
Murray House doubles as both a history lesson where you can get your head around the early days of Hong Kong and ties to colonialism & a leisure hotspot. With reference to the latter, you may set about combing every nook and cranny there is here and that too with your favourite camera, as Murray House is a treasure-trove of details and outstanding architectural craft. Culinary connoisseurs can sample a gamut of flavours within a slew of restaurants that are well positioned on the 1st floor of Murray House. What’s more? You can take in the spectacular panoramas of Repulse Bay and like-minded travellers frolicking to their heart’s content along the pristine beach that has been labelled as the main beach on Hong Kong Island.
