HISTORY MUSEUM
FROM THE DUTCH GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO THE MELAKA HISTORY MUSEUM
The Stadthuys building was constructed by the Dutch authorities to serve as the administrative center and residence of the Dutch Governor in Melaka.
During the British colonization of Malaya, the Stadthuys building continued to be used as an administrative center.
Creation of the Malacca Centenary Committee (MCC) published The Town and Fort of Malacca the following year.
MCC became the Malacca Historical Society (MHS) on 14th January under the chairmanship of Resident Councillor, B. W. Elles. Major C. E. Bone was the first president. Fr. Jules François was elected president in July.
Opening of the nucleus of the Malacca Museum, curated by Fr René Cardon, in a room of the Stadt House, next to Malacca Library. Fr. Cardon presented his collection of old coins.
MHS published the Historical Guide to Malacca edited by Fr. Jules François.
MHS asked the Resident councillor for the Stadt House to become the History Museum
The Malacca Museum moved to an old Dutch house, Fort Road.
After gaining independence, the Stadthuys building continued to serve as an administrative center, housing various government offices such as the Chief Minister's Office of Melaka, the State Administration Department, the Land and District Office, the Labor Department and the Registration Department.
The building was not left empty after the administrative center moved to Jalan Hang Tuah. It accommodated the offices of Melaka's state statutory bodies and the Southern Region Antiquities Office.
The main hall of the Stadthuys was converted into a temporary History Museum to replace the Malacca Museum on Jalan Kota. The state government planned to preserve the Stadthuys as a museum. On December 17, 1982, the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, officiated the laying of the foundation stone, marking the beginning of the Stadthuys' role as the Melaka History Museum.
In two phases, the state government restored the Stadthuys building in Melaka through the Public Works Department (JKR). The first phase focused on the upper and exterior parts of the building, while the second phase covered the interior and structural aspects. The restoration was fully completed in 1990
The construction of this building initially started with the intention of turning it into the Melaka History Museum. However, because of its size and ability to hold different exhibitions related to the state of Melaka, it was ultimately named the History and Ethnography Museum.
The History and Ethnography Museum was officially inaugurated by the Prime Minister, YAB. Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad on April 16, 1992.
The Stadthuys building has been designated as a National Heritage under the National Heritage Act 2005 (Act 645) by the Department of National Heritage.
