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Old Victoria Institution

In the 1880s, some prominent citizens, including Kapitan Cina Yap Kwan Seng, Towkay Loke Yew and Thamboosamy Pillai saw the need for a good English school in Kuala Lumpur. They built the Victoria Institution in 1893 with the help of the British Resident, WH Treacher, and donations from the Sultan of Selangor. It was unusual, as it was neither a denominational nor government school. Part of the funding came from donations and the rest from the balance of Queen Victoria's Jubilee Fund in 1887, hence the school's name.

Designed by AC Norman, the building was based on an English cottage, half-brick and half-timber, with Gothic features. The lower floor, a playground originally, has Gothic arches. The upper floor housed three classrooms that were interconnected by arches.

Part of the original verandah above this lower floor can still be observed at the rear of the building. In 1911, the headmaster's bungalow, which used to be sited on the school grounds, was the scene of a murder that stunned the local community. The episode was immortalized by Somerset Maugham in one of his famous short stories which later was adapted for the film called "The Letter". In 1929, owing to lack of space and its flood-prone location, the school moved to new premises on Petaling Hill, now Jalan Hang Tuah, where it still stands today.

At various times, the building housed the Technical College, the High School and Panggung Drama (Drama Theatre).

Click the map below to view a larger version

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