The Hubback Brothers Tribute

Based on what Dr Gwynn explained it must be Wisma ...

2012-05-12T12:50:10.876+08:00

Based on what Dr Gwynn explained it must be Wisma Kastam located on Beach Street in Penang. The building was originally occupied by Malayan Railway Service Northern HQ which also acted as Penang Railway Station.

Passengers bought their tickets at the Penang Railway Station, walked to the Railway Jetty at the end of the China Street Ghaut and boarded the Railway Ferry Streamers to Butterworth to catch the train. Fares to and from Penang were inclusive of the ferry ride.

Built a century ago, the Malayan Railway Building marked the completion of the Federated Malay States (FMS) Railway which was mainly used to transport tin and crops.

It was the railway’s northern region headquarters. In the late 60s, the state Customs Office occupied the building.

Wisma Kastam now-->http://zain.zenfolio.com/ar-others/e2e6fcd36

Hello Zain, as you already know, Hubback did not o...

2012-05-11T10:08:26.993+08:00

Hello Zain, as you already know, Hubback did not only 'specialise' in Mohgul architecture; but I think it was more an influence from C.E. Spooner and R.A.J. Bidewell as well to build this form of architecture as a landmark in Malaya. Hubback is also known for his Tudor / Victorian architecture that is also correct for that time period.

Thanks for dropping by and thanks for appreciating our National Heritage! Save our Buildings!

This architectural gem deserves better treatment a...

2012-05-06T22:30:07.213+08:00

This architectural gem deserves better treatment and greater respect from Malaysians including the govt. Alas it is treated just as an ordinary old building which they dare not destroy but they do not want to put it to good use either.

I just shot this majestic edifice last Friday evening when the lighting was so flattering perhaps caused by supermoon phenomenon.

Check out the photos here -->http://zainabdullah.wordpress.com/2012/05/06/heritage-building-of-kuala-lumpur-the-old-kuala-lumpur-railway-station/

I was surprised that this handsome building is sti...

2012-04-21T02:56:57.365+08:00

I was surprised that this handsome building is still left vacant until now. I remember shooting this building somewhere early 2009 when it was at the end of renovation work and I thought it would be utilised after the state library moved out.

I hope it will be put to good use and not to be left to rot naturally.

This architectural work by AB Hubback is, in my opinion, quite different from his usual Mughal architecture signature with domes and chhatris and arches. This building is more similar to Town Hall and City Hall in Penang as well as Carcosa inspired by Neoclassical architecture.

Do check out my photos of the State Scretariat Building here -->http://zain.zenfolio.com/statesecretariat

Great work in producing an informative and worthwh...

2012-03-18T18:27:58.176+08:00

Great work in producing an informative and worthwhile website. I hope your detailed research will be able to produce a definitive list of all of AB Hubback's buildings, including his later works which were not included in his letter to RIBA.
David
thriftytraveller.wordpress.com
www.malaysia-traveller.com

Hello Dr. Gywnn .... Hurm, a rather interesting pi...

2012-02-01T16:29:01.023+08:00

Hello Dr. Gywnn .... Hurm, a rather interesting piece of information you have there. In fact, according to A.B. submission to the A.R.I.B.A., it does state Offices FMS Railways in Penang circa 1904. We have yet to identify the building but could it have been Wisma Kastam? Everytime I get off the jetty in Penang I begin to ponder ... could the building be actually on Beach Street or was it in Butterworth?

As to why C.E. Spooners signature maybe on the document, you can look up our Facebook Page where Mr. Omar Ibrahim has shared some ideas on the possible 'political' & 'organizational' climate of that period at The Hubbacks 'Facebook' Page .......

I came across C.E.Spooner's signature on the b...

2011-12-15T22:34:26.060+08:00

I came across C.E.Spooner's signature on the bottom of the drawings for George Town's FMS railway station - on Penang Island. The building began in 1902 but sufferd problems with its piling as the land was reclaimed land - it was finally finished in 1907 I think. Other's tell me it was designed by A B Hubback - any thoughts on this?
And thank you for a great blog!

I am writing about ships built at Porthmadog. One...

2011-07-27T23:15:19.459+08:00

I am writing about ships built at Porthmadog. One of them was the C.E.Spooner, built 1878. This was named after Charles Easton Spooner who ran the Festiniog Railway for c 30 years. The family were wealthy and lived in a large Victorian stone house in its own grounds overlooking Porthmadog and the estuary of the rivers Dwyryd and Glaslyn.The ship set the record for an Atlantic crossing, west to east, in 13 days.

Charles Edwin was a son of Charles Easton and went to Malaya. He appeared to have gone to Ceylon in 1876 and then to Malaya, where he is asociated wih Kuala Lumpur and buildings as well as railways.

He came from a railway engineering family. His brother Percival went to India in the 1870s and was working on railways in East Bengal.

Curiously, a ship built at Borthygest, Porthmadog called the Pride of Wales worked in the Indian Ocean as a charter mail ship for the Indian government, and made visits to Indonesia and Malaya. She also visited Ceylon.

Any further information would be welcome at johnidrisjones@btinternet.com

John Idris Jones
Ruthin, North Wales

Hey En. Omar, OMG! How could I have missed that? M...

2011-06-19T18:32:16.129+08:00

Hey En. Omar, OMG! How could I have missed that? Must have been too sleepy then ... :)

Lloyd,Thanks a lot for sharing the list. The third...

2011-06-15T09:05:37.007+08:00

Lloyd,Thanks a lot for sharing the list. The third last building in the list, noted by you as [not legible], is Mosque, Kuala Lumpur and this building is now known as Masjid Jamek,Kuala Lumpur. Also I have shared some info about Malay Residential School on your facebook. Regards, Omar Ibrahim

Dear En. Omar, Many thanks for your comments and...

2011-06-14T11:23:07.415+08:00

Dear En. Omar,

Many thanks for your comments and I am sorry for not replying you earlier. I had been focusing on other projects at hand. Anyhow, please call me Lloyd and I have posted the article on Brig. General A. B. Hubback's R.I.B.A. submission as per your request. Good luck and happy hunting!

Dear "Hubback Brothers Tribute", My earl...

2011-06-13T23:02:43.234+08:00

Dear "Hubback Brothers Tribute", My earlier comment on 28 May refers. Thank you for your reply and hoping that the list of buildings will be made known soon. In the meantime, could you confirm that one of the buildings in Mr Hubback's RIBA submission is Malay Residential School Kuala Kangsar. I have some facts about this building that I would like to share.Omar Ibrahim

Hello sembangkuala, thanks for dropping by! It'...

2011-05-22T16:30:39.737+08:00

Hello sembangkuala, thanks for dropping by! It's good to hear that I am not the only one alone on this. Would definitely drop by your site as well! Thanks for the encouragement!

Dear Sir, I notice that some of the buildings in t...

2011-05-20T10:32:59.297+08:00

Dear Sir,
I notice that some of the buildings in the list of Arthur's submission to RIBA has been blurred. I would like to request that the names of these buildings which have been blurred is revealed so that we can identify them.
Omar Ibrahim

They should commission the century-old train stati...

2011-05-05T14:40:33.129+08:00

They should commission the century-old train station to become an interesting spot for tourists and visitors.

Hello En. Omar, yes, I have noted and thanks for t...

2011-05-02T20:29:43.333+08:00

Hello En. Omar, yes, I have noted and thanks for the correction! Much appreciated!

The Lab Ratz, The picture you posted on the Facebo...

2011-05-02T13:51:55.537+08:00

The Lab Ratz, The picture you posted on the Facebook is NOT that of King's Pavilion designed by A.B. Hubback. I have today posted the correct one.

Hello Omar, thanks for your comments! Very interes...

2011-04-25T13:43:03.475+08:00

Hello Omar, thanks for your comments! Very interesting piece of information you have there. And I was wondering where was the High Commissioner's Residence was in Kuala Kangsar! I shall look into it. Once again, thanks for the comments and for dropping by!

I stumbled on your blog recently while looking for...

2011-04-14T20:53:17.013+08:00

I stumbled on your blog recently while looking for information on the King's Pavilion (KP) in Kuala Kangsar.I noted from A.B.Hubback's submission to the RIBA, it includes the Residence for High Commissioner, Kuala Kangsar. King's Pavilion is the name given to the High Commissioner's Residence.The building was given to the Malay College after the formation of the Federation of Malaya in 1948. I was a resident of this beautiful mansion as a new student of Malay College in 1955. The building is now a girl's school called SMK Raja perempuan Kelsom.
I commend you on your effort to keep alive the memory of A.B. Hubback.

Congratulations on the centennial of this great bu...

2011-04-13T08:36:55.921+08:00

Congratulations on the centennial of this great building. May she see many more years to come.

Hey David, thanks for your comments. Yes, there ar...

2011-04-01T23:24:27.065+08:00

Hey David, thanks for your comments. Yes, there are many errors in the spelling of the Hubback's name and yes, the Seremban Library was designed by A. B. Hubback as well. Such a fine building, which I pass by everytime (next time must get a photo) as my in laws are from Seremban! Shame on me! Would appreciate some linkback if you still find the information useful. Take care and all the best!

Hey there! Sorry, had been neglecting this blog fo...

2011-04-01T23:18:27.185+08:00

Hey there! Sorry, had been neglecting this blog for sometime and I see I have some new comments! Thanks very much, and my name is Lloyd Gan. It's Gan YHT if you are looking for my chinese name. Sorry if this comes late!

Hi, your blog is very interesting. I visited Serem...

2011-01-15T19:50:04.709+08:00

Hi, your blog is very interesting. I visited Seremban today and the plaque outside the State Library said that the building was designed by "B.P. Hubback". I assume that is a misprint and that it should read A.B Hubback? Or is there another brother that we do not know about? Just want to get the correct facts for my blog http://thriftytraveller.wordpress.com/
Thanks, David

I am very interested in some of your articles and ...

2011-01-14T00:21:52.703+08:00

I am very interested in some of your articles and would like to cite them in my postgrad research of revitalising Ipoh's heritage town. Apparently, AB Hubback was one the main architects who designed many of Ipoh's landmarks!

For that purpose, I need to know your name. From the plane ticket, I assume you are Mr. HT Yang? Correct me if I am wrong.

By the way, great effort! Hoping to know more people who are concerned with their heritage..

I've known of the late AB Hubback for some tim...

2010-09-25T00:01:19.650+08:00

I've known of the late AB Hubback for some time since my days as an architectural student in the early '80s. The buildings he designed among others, the Railway station KL, Masjid Jamek, and the Ubudiah Mosque were my favourites of the Colonial period during my student years and still are. Hitherto I've not been able to learn more about this great man as historical information was scarcely available. Now thanks to your blog this is no longer the case. All the best to you, and keep up the good work. Please do send my regards to the Hubback family.