Structures stand as a testament to a historical moment in time, when people of a different era put their vision, hopes and desires into creating a representation of a strong emotive sentiment. Though times may change, the symbol of what the structure stands for will always make it iconic.
Built by William Kellie Smith to celebrate his successful ventures in tin and rubber,
Kellie’s Castle in Batu Gajah, Perak, incorporated a number of ambitious features. A total of 70 workers along with construction materials like bricks and marble were brought all the way from India.
Combining Greco-Roman, Moorish, and Indian architectural concepts, the building was the only structure of its kind in Malaya at that time. More interestingly, a unique concoction of egg whites, sand, lime, brown sugar and honey was used in place of cement. Further, the entire construction did not use nails, iron or heavy machinery.
The mansion’s plans incorporated a six storey tower, Malaya’s first elevator, magnificent columns, a rooftop courtyard and three underground tunnels, as well as a wine cellar and an indoor tennis court. Unfortunately, the building was never finished as work halted in 1926 with the sudden demise of its owner.
The distinct allure of the Castle with its exclusive and opulent setting has attracted the attention not only of local filmmakers, but also global ones. Part of the 1999 Hollywood film, Anna and the King starring Jodie Foster and Chow Yun-Fat was shot here and the 2000 Hong Kong action picture, Skyline Cruisers starring Leon Lai, Jordan Chan and Shu Qi, also used Kellie’s Castle as a location.
As part of an archaeological conservation project in the 10th Malaysia Plan, RM5 million was spent on rehabilitation and upgrading work on Kellie’s Castle in 2000. Since then, the magnificent mansion has been attracting 6,000 to 10,000 visitors monthly. This has ensured the preservation of the century-old heritage site and its continuing to stand as a structure of significance for many years to come.
