It was a bright sunny Thursday morning on our drive to Rasa in Hulu Selangor to visit the Tan Boon Chia House. We nearly missed the little lane just before the town of Rasa. A small u-turn next to the railway tracks and we could see glimpses of a bright green building hidden through the trees. As we drove in through the gates under the entrance arch we caught our breath as the full view of the mansion came into sight. Who could guess that such a stately mansion stood hidden away off the little lane?
Tan Boon Chia was the most influential tin mining tycoon in Rasa. Of Hokkien descent, he emigrated to Malaya with his father at a young age. He started as a mine worker and became a small taukeh of mines. In the early stages, he cleared the hills for rubber cultivation. He then expanded his tin mining business from Selangor to Pahang and Perak. The rapid development of both the rubber and tin businesses made him super-rich.
Tan Boon Chia expected Rasa to grow faster than Kuala Lumpur. Thus, at the age of 26 in 1918, he searched for a 5-hectare site and set up the luxurious Tan Boon Chia Mansion. However, the Japanese invasion of Malaya not only disrupted Rasa’s economic growth but also dampened Tan’s hopes. The Japanese Imperial Army seized the mansion and made it their headquarters. It was believed that many Chinese residents of Rasa were tortured, killed and buried in the mansion grounds. After the war ended, the mansion was returned to the Tan family. But they did not return to the bungalow. Residents of Rasa assumed the spirits of the murdered victims still roaming the bungalow making it a haunted house.
Tan Boon Chia died in 1951. His son took over and further strengthened the family’s heritage and became a plantation and mining entrepreneur.
After being abandoned for about 50 years, the family decided to begin restoration works and the result is what you see standing today. Every effort was made to restore the original furniture and interior décor to the house and to match the colour of the original paint too. It is a wonderful place to explore. An outbuilding taken over by trees and creepers has been left as it was as the photos show. It was possibly a separate kitchen for the family. Old vintage cars are still parked where they were left.
In front of the building are 2 old tin dredge buckets, to remind visitors of the family’s history. We were fascinated by the before and after photographs on the walls of the house which showed the state of the house before the restoration. Well worth the visit.
We left the house to drive on to the amazing World of Phalaenopsis Orchid Farm in Ulu Yam. Of course, we could not resist the orchid plants at a fraction of the price in the city. The farm has a lovely café serving coffee and cakes and is a popular stop for lunch for the local people. Take the time to explore the many hidden secrets and attractions which are less than an hour’s drive out of the city. You’ll be well rewarded.
