Gedong Bondholoemakso: A historical building in 'limbo'

Gedong Bondholoemakso: A historical building in 'limbo'

Kartika Bagus C., The Jakarta Post, Surakarta, Central Jawa

It is an old, historic building, built upon the order of the King
of Surakarta, Sultan Pakoe Boewono X, in 1917. Unlike other old
buildings in town, which are mostly in a pathetic condition, it
looks amazingly good. The white, flamboyant edifice with thick
walls is neat and grandiose indeed.

Several colored lights decorate the front part of the Dutch-
designed house, emphasizing the beauty of the structure. On the
left-hand side is a spacious garage that can accommodate two
large cars, while on the right side is a large swimming pool
where the tenants can go for sporting activity.

They may also relax on the spacious terrace at the rearmost
part of the 1,300-square-meter compound.

The house is up for sale. The owner, a contractor who lives in
Jakarta, is asking for billions of rupiah. Anyone who can afford
it may buy the building.

What happens if the building is then demolished?

Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that a new owner would
preserve the antique architectural treasure, despite the historic
fact that the building was the starting place of Indonesia's
banking industry.

The building, known as Kantor Bondoloemakso, was owned by a
Keraton (palace) enterprise (BUMK). According to the Javanese
dictionary, the word Bondoloemakso is derived from the words
bondo (wealth) and loemakso (something that is circulated).

Kantor Bondoloemakso served as a place where people kept their
money or borrowed money. Employees of the Keraton administration
also received their salary at the office.

Some characteristics of a bank are still in evidence in the
building, as there is a safety deposit box where the money used
to be kept.

Head of the administration of Keraton Surakarta Dipokusumo
said that the kingdom enjoyed its prosperity during the era of
Pakoe Boewono X. It inspired the king to build the office as the
center of economic activities in the area of Surakarta -- also
known as Solo -- and its surroundings.

"An important official during the time was KGPH Joyokusumo. He
was a well-known economist. Unfortunately, when he died, there
was no one as good as he," he said,

Curator of Radyapustaka Museum Mufti Raharjo, who is also a
reliable source of history in Surakarta, said that as a center of
the administration, Surakarta was at that time like Jakarta is
today.

"Rich royal family members often used the bank, either for
individual or business activity among themselves. Unfortunately,
because the building is located outside the Keraton compound,
there is no record about who managed the office," he said.

The limited records about the activities of the office reveal
how Pakoe Boewono X at that time had already got the idea of
banking, said Raharjo, a graduate of English literature at
Surakarta-based Sebelas Maret University. But he admitted that
the Dutch colonial government also played a significant role in
the decision to build the office.

"And here it is: The first bank office situated in Java, in
Surakarta, to be precise. So, we can say that Kantor
Bondoloemakso is a silent eyewitness to the nation's earliest
banking activities, during the Dutch colonial era," said the
father of two.

Other sources said that development of the office was in
accordance with the development of Keraton Surakarta, whose
golden era gradually faded.

After KGPH Joyokusumo passed away, the banking office became
disused.

In 1947, the office, which was located in Baluwarti, Pasar
Kliwon, became a military headquarters for Battalion IX, Brigade
24, Division 4 and Battalion IX, Bondoloekmaso Regiment III,
which was led by Mayor Karto Yuwono, with Lt.Col. Gunardjo as the
commander.

After the military strengthened its position, they moved the
headquarters to the nearby town of Salatiga and after that Kantor
Bondoloekmaso was abandoned.

Worse still, certain members of the Keraton family sold the
building to the private sector.

In 1999, a businessman from Jakarta bought the house for Rp
1.3 billion and later sold it to a contractor, who also lives in
Jakarta. The contractor is a relative of the Sultan of
Yogyakarta, Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X.

A major renovation has made the building look very nice. But
it is not nice at all to know that it is now on sale. As money
matters, the ownership may be transferred to anyone who can
afford it, with no consideration on commitment to preserve its
historical value.

This raises concern that the silent eyewitness to the banking
history in the country may be destroyed: Yet another tragedy
regarding the fate of old, historic buildings in the country.