Bau Search For A New Direction After Gold Mining Days Over

General View of Bau Town



Everyone who has been to Bau Town wonders as to how much gold and other mineral deposits are still in existence after the district had been mined for at least 170 years. An experienced old miner in Bau once said, "Gold is found everywhere in Bau. It is only a question of grade". This means that the good gold deposit potential is still there. Bukit Young Goldmine Sdn. Bhd. encouraged by the State Government of Sarawak undertook to revive the gold mining industry. The management has high hopes of striking the jack pot with the use of modern technology and highly trained personnel including geologists, surveyors and metallurgists. Although the project is capital intensive  in  nature and fraught with high risk,   Bukit.Young Goldmine Sdn. Bhd. lias pioneered in me extensive exploration programs of identifying economic and workable ores. It. is really a big gamble for the company.

General View of Bau Town's Fascinating Places

History had repeated itself once when the tailings of Borneo Company which closed down in 1921 were profitably worked out by the Chinese miners in 1930s and 1940s. With the increase of gold production from 5,030 grams valued at $160,504.00 in 1983 to 315 kilograms valued at $11.5 millions in 1987, it is evident that the history may repeat itself at least for one more time. With the increase in mining activities in the district, Bau is more active today. More mining activities mean more employment for the locals.

In Bau Town especially after the Forth Big Fire in 1978, more new shop-houses were constructed. The town grew in size and business flourished. In 1988 a survey was made. There were a total of 175 shop-houses, a commercial bank, a theatre and one housing estate in Bau Town. Bau Town is fast developing; private residential land gave way to new shopping complex. The completion of Bong Low Sian Sze Temple costing more than $700,000.00 on 12.7.1986 not only provides a place of worship for its followers, it has also become a tourist attraction.

Although Bau Town has achieved tremendous development since 1963, the Town shall remain not only as a mining town but also one which will attract more tourists to visit interesting places such as Fairy Cave, Wind Cave, Ghost Cave, Tasik Biru and Bong Low Sian Sze Temple.

If the historical landmark of Bau Lama, which was the birthplace of Bau Town could be restored to its original shape, it will certainly be added to the list of tourist attractions. Many proposals have been received to have the name "Bau" changed either to Kota Mas (the town of gold) or Kota Tasik Biru (the town of Blue Lake) or even Kola Mas Gading (the town of golden tusk), but generally, the people still prefer the present name for a sentimental reason. It may remind them of 1857 Anti-Rajah Movement.

Bau will remain as Bau although it may mean "smelly" but it is the good smell - the smell of patriotism that the people of Bau prefer to retain for the Land of Gold.