rashid's FotoPage - Fotopages.com

Carey Island is the largest island found at the mouth of the Langat River in Selangor.
It is now linked to the mainland by a simple bridge which crosses the river and will possibly be better known for the Mah Meri Orang Asli settlement on the island. Naturalists will also know it for its mangrove swamps. The island is flat and low-lying, with parts below sea level. Its significant plantation industry is protected by dykes and tidal gates. Despite much scepticism about its potential for agriculture, Edward Valentine Carey nevertheless pursued his proposal to develop plantations in this area. A small digression here: Did you know that in 1902, Carey persuaded the authorities to import crows from Sri Lanka, the land of his birth, into the plantations of the Klang Valley to help control the infestation of caterpillars which were devastating estates? But to get back to the story, until 1985 when the bridge was built, Carey Island was linked to the mainland by a short tug-boat ride from Port Swettenham (now Port Klang). On the island itself, there were no cars until the late 1910s or early 1920s. Transport was in the form of a flat trolly pushed along railway tracks, moving both passengers as well as goods. Other than the indigenous Mah Meri, the south Indian Tamil plantation labourers formed the largest part of the population. Smaller numbers of Singhalese worked on the island as clerks and technicians while, for a short period, there was a need for Chinese skilled carpenters and furniture makers on the island. But the dominant community was the European planters, managers and representatives of the owners. They lived in splendid bungalows, and had their clubhouse, mostly concentrated on the peninsula at the confluence of the Straits of Lumut and the northern channel of the Langat River, on what is now known as the West Estate.
Originally, the plantation buildings were all made of timber from the island, which was available till the 1950s. The plantation buildings which Carey Island is now known for were built mainly between the 1920s and 1930s. James French, the Danish first general manager of Jugra Land and Carey Ltd, together with C.L. Gjorup, a Danish engineer, are said to have been responsible for their construction.
French engaged Gjorup to design and build the bungalows and other buildings on the island, and to construct the furniture which went into these buildings. Gjorup was also responsible for designing the jetties and tidal gates. Hatter's Castle is the earliest of these buildings, and is probably the one which has received most "Press", being very picturesque. Constructed in 1923, it is one of several bungalows of estate managers and assistant managers on the island and "set the architectural style of the buildings that followed". (Chen Voon Fee in Landmarks of Selangor, Jugra Publications 2003.)
Architecturally, it is usually described as an Arts and Crafts building, a style which is seen pervasively in plantation buildings and hill-station bungalows throughout Peninsular Malaysia.
Raised about 1.5 metres above the ground, it is constructed of unplastered bricks (made and fired on the island), with clay Marseille tiles. It has a timber upper floor, timber window and door frames, a beautiful grand staircase with carved balusters and polished wood built-in fittings in the bedrooms, living and dining areas. It is kept immaculately clean and in mint condition. Between the late 1920s and the early 1930s, several other bungalows to house senior plantation managers were constructed. In addition, there is a clubhouse with a nine-hole golf course. Other facilities are the hospital, the post office, police station and what used to be the plantation's provision shop. The quarters for the staff and artisans and places of worship - a Hindu temple, a church and, since 1990, a mosque - make up the ensemble of buildings on this island. But apart from the architecture, and the fact that this ensemble of buildings has remained intact not just individually but collectively, what is it that makes them so remarkable? Last Friday a group of tourism board of Malaysia personnel along with few journalist from various newspaper came and experience the carrey island beautiful heritage..I manage to snap few picture to share. Enjoy...