Murray House

Built 1846

It was built in 1846 as officers' quarters of the Murray Barracks

Murray House was built in 1846 in what is now the business district of Central, as officers' quarters. It was named after Sir George Murray, the British Master-General of the Ordnance. Major Edward Aldrich and Lieutenant Thomas Bernard Collinson of the Royal Engineers designed it.

Design

Heavy stone below and lighter columns above suit the climate

Murray House was designed in the Neoclassical style. Heavy stone walls are on the ground floor to give a sense of stability, while lighter Doric and Ionic columns above allow better ventilation. All floors have verandas on all sides.

Haunted?

Government offices in the house had it exorcised twice

After World War II several government departments used the building as offices. It was believed to be haunted and was exorcised twice. One ceremony was held in 1963, and the other, in 1974, was televised.

Moved

The house was taken apart in 1982 and rebuilt in Stanley by 2002

In 1982 the house was dismantled to make way for the new Bank of China Tower. Over 3,000 building blocks were labelled and catalogued. The building was restored in Stanley in 2001 and reopened in 2002.

3,000building blocks labelled and catalogued

The occupation

During the Japanese occupation it was a base of the military police

During the 44-month Japanese occupation of Hong Kong, the building was the command centre of the Japanese military police. It was also the execution place for some Chinese citizens.