Jakarta History

Kebayoran Baru, The Ugly Duckling

VIVAnews - Most residents of Indonesia’s capital city of Jakarta would agree that “Kebayoran Baru” is now considered one of the more elite areas in Jakarta. This area has its own unique history. Once upon a time it was a lumber mill.

According to Jakarta historian, Alwi Shahab, the area used to be a lumber mill. The word “Kebayoran” is derived from the word “kabayuran.” “Kabayuran” means lumber mill for bayur wood. Bayur wood was known as one of the best building materials due to its resistance from termites.

Aside from bayur wood, other types of wood were also stored in this location. They are then transported to Batavia, what is now the metropolitan Jakarta. They were floated via Krukut River and Grogol River.

During the period of the Dutch East India Company or Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie (VOC or “kompeni” as the Indonesian called it), Kebayoran Baru was a refuge for criminals from Batavia. VOC was a Dutch multinational company established in 1602. The Dutch government granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia, including Indonesia.

In 1938, a plan to build an international airport in Kebayoran was underway. However, World War II ensued and the plan was cancelled. After the war was over, the satellite city of Kebayoran Baru was built.

Kebayoran Baru continued to flourish. However, in the 50’s it was still often referred to as “kampung udik” a term used to refer to a backward village or “the sticks.” Many of its inhabitants were referred to as “orang udik” a term used to refer to backward people or “hillbillies.” At that time, Kebayoran Baru was located about 8 kilometers south of Batavia. There were only two roads leading to Kebayoran Baru: through Kebayoran Lama then Kyai Maja road, or through Manggarai then Wolter Monginsidi road. At that time Sudirman road did not exist.

In addition, Jakarta residents must have thought twice before heading to Kebayoran Baru. Aside from the fact that the area was bare, there was a criminal by the name of “Mat Item,” notorious for his cruelty.

In 1950s Kebayoran Baru was designed for a population of 50,000. But now the population exceeds that figure by far. “It used to be a satellite city, but now it’s a crowded city,” said Adolf Heuken, a German Jesuit Pastor who has studied and written numerous books on Jakarta.

In 1963, Kebayoran Baru’s function as a satellite city was still maintained. “There didn’t used to be any roads or houses in that area,” said Heuken to VIVAnews. All the lands were still filled with trees.

Heuken said that while Ali Sadikin was Governor of Jakarta, construction in the area was not allowed. However, more people from outside Jakarta started coming and crowding the Kebayoran area, thus making the construction of houses inevitable. “This (increase in population) also makes the price of the land keeps increasing,” said Heuken.

Today, Kebayoran Baru is one of the more elite areas in Jakarta. The price of land per square meter could reach millions of Rupiah, as compared to about Rp. 100 per square meter in the 1950’s.

Polisi Bagi Takjil Gratis Tapi Tak Ada Pengendara Melintas, Netizen: Anda Berkumpul, Kami Putar Arah

Translated by: Bonardo Maulana, Ramona Sofianne Dewi

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VIVA.co.id
28 Maret 2024