About the Trail:
This Trail is located in the most historic quarter of Indonesia. It is an area where archaeologists have found signs of continuous settlement for more than 2000 years. From the 12th. Century to 1527 a busy harbour known as “Sunda Kelapa” could be found along both sides of the Ciliwung River, forming the main port of the Hindu Kingdom of Sunda. During this period it was visited by ships from Palembang, Tanjunpura, Malacca, Macassar and Madura as well as merchant seaman from places as distant as India and south China.
The Portugese first arrived in 1513 from Malacca, and established a friendly relationship with local Sundanese culminating in a historic treaty which was signed in 1522. In a brief interlude between 1527 to the end of the 16th Century the area was taken over by the Muslim leader Fatahilla who assaulted Sunda Kelapa in 1527 with 1400 troops from Cirebon and Demak. He renamed the area “Jayakarta” from which the modern city derives its name. The Dutch began trading with Jayakarta in 1596, establishing the notorious Dutch East India Company (VOC) in 1602. In 1619, the Dutch attacked and destroyed Jayakarta, renaming the new base “Batavia” after an ancient Germanic tribe who preceded the Dutch civilisation.
“Thus Batavia, a carbon copy of a Dutch coastal town, and built east of the ruins of Jayakarta, was born. A city destined to become the nerve centre of Dutch colonial power for almost 350 years”. The Dutch remained in Indonesai until after the Second World War.
At its height, Batavia contained fortifications, a network of canals, and many hectares of warehouses for the storage of spice. Easy availability of spices, and the supply of cheap or slave labour, were the main incentives for colonisation and via the VOC, fuelled the economy of Europe.
Despite its immense importance to Indonesia, Batavia is a sadly neglected precinct. The most intact quarter is at the Port of Sunda Kelapa where the romantic looking Pinisi sailing vessels can be seen loading cargo on the backs of sweating coolies who negotiate narrow gang planks with effortless balance.
Moving further inland, the former network of canals becomes progressively eroded by new buildings and the recently constructed, elevated toll road. Many of the 17th century warehouses and other historic buildings in this area are at extreme risk from a combination of poor maintenance, and lack of conservation support by their owners. Batavia presents an overwhelming challenge to the Indonesian Agencies who are responsible for conservation.
It is to be hoped that this trail will stimulate interest and awareness of this fascinating area. It has been planned by members of AusHeritage in association with the Jakarta City Government, under an aid scheme administered by the Australia Indonesia Institute, a Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Overseas Trade in Australia.