About this place

Independence Square was formerly the heart of Colonial British Malaya. In this Square can be found a big field, then used as a cricket field of the British Selangor Club. The field is surrounded by beautiful Moghul-inspired buildings built by the British in the late 19th century and was used to house:

1. the Government Secretariat Buildings of the Federated Malay States, now named the Sultan Abdul Samad Building now functioning as an office of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, and also another building being used as the City Hall Theatre,

2. the Government Printers Building, now named as the KL City Gallery and a giant scale model of Kuala Lumpur is exhibited in the Gallery.

3. the Chartered Bank of India, China and Australia, now being converted into the Music Museum,

4. the British Club House, now known as the Royal Selangor Club,

5. the St. Mary’s Cathedral, the first Anglican Church in Malaya and is still a functioning church.

6. the first Kuala Lumpur Railway Headquarters, now used as the Textile Museum.

Independence Square got its name when the Malayan flag was raised for the very FIRST time at the field when the clock ticked 12:01am on the 31st August 1957 just after the British Union Jack flag was lowered for its last time. Today, a giant 100metre tall flag-pole marks the exact venue of the event and a huge Malaysian flag flies atop the flag-pole for all to see.

Independence Square located by the Klang River and across the bridge lies Chinatown. It is a place that must be visited by everyone who visits Kuala Lumpur.

Beneath the field are surprises for you to discover when you visit this place.