| Official Name: | Julau |
| Settlement Type: | District |
| Translit Lang1: | Other |
| Translit Lang1 Type1: | Chinese |
| Translit Lang1 Info1: | 如楼 |
| Nickname: | Black Pepper District |
| Pushpin Map: | Malaysia |
| Pushpin Mapsize: | 300 |
| Coordinates: | 2.0167°N 111.9167°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  Malaysia |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | Division |
| Subdivision Name2: | Sarikei |
| Area Total Km2: | 1703.39 |
| Population Total: | 34500 |
| Population As Of: | 2000 |
| Timezone: | MST |
| Utc Offset: | +8 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 96600 |
| Area Code: | +6084734 (local landline only) |
| Website: | www.maradong-julaudc.sarawak.gov.my/ |
Julau is a town, and the capital of the Julau District (1703.39 square kilometres) in Sarikei Division, Sarawak, Malaysia. The district population (year 2020 census) is 15, 333. The population is dominated by Iban as well as Chinese especially the Fuzhou.
In 1853, James Brooke was able to take over Rajang River and its surrounding settlements from the Brunei Sultanate.[1] A person from Xiamen named Limah Din (林结麟) was the first Chinese to arrive in Julau in 1929. He settled near the mouth of the Julau river and started acres of rubber plantations. He then used his home to start a trade business with the natives in Julau. In memory of his role in opening up Julau, a road is now named after him as Limah Din road.[2] The Chinese started business activities in 1936 at the mouth of the Julau river between Julau and Nanga Meluan. In the same year, the Brooke government set up a fort at a hill in Meluan in order to defend itself from the Iban attacks led by Penghulu Asun. In 1938, the Brooke government formally put Julau under the jurisdiction of Ng Meluan. The trading of rubber sheets and Engkabang fruits (Shorea macrophylla) between the Iban and the Chinese was the major economic activity in Julau.[3]
During the Japanese occupation of Sarawak, there were some Iban people who took advantage of the power vacuum and went downriver and perform raiding activities. Therefore, the Chinese in Julau decided to cooperate with other more friendly Ibans to start patrolling and protecting the people. Besides, several Ibans decided to let the Chinese to open up their lands for the cultivation of rice, corn, and tobacco.[4] In 1953, the Bao Hua cinema (宝华戏院) was opened. However, in 1980s, due to the wide of availability of television sets, the cinema was closed down. In 1954, there were 22 shophouses in Julau. However, in 1965, all the shophouses were burnt down in a fire; while the land where the shophouses were built are left abandoned today. In 1955, a hospital, a telephone department, and a village council was set up. In 1957, a dormitory for the civil servants was built.[5] In 1957, the first row of five concrete shophouses were built. In the same year, the Julau village council started to install power station, electrical wires, and light bulbs, replacing oil lamps.[6] Motorboat companies were set up to connect Julau with other towns along the Rajang River such as Machan, Kanowit, and Sibu.[7] In 1960, Julau businessmen started a pipe water project where river water was pumped into shophouses and homes. The water project was later taken over by the government water board.[8]
In 1963, Malaysia was formed. Road conditions were improved. This significantly shorten the travelling time from Julau to Sarikei and Sibu. In 1970s, Julau bridge was built. Motorboat companies have to close down their businesses due to reducing number of customers.[9] In 1967, the first government secondary school in Julau was set up. Students from other rural areas such as Entabai, Pakan, and Meluan came to study here. In 1970s, Julau water board, telephone department, agriculture department and police department were built.[10] Previously, Julau was a sub-district under the jurisdiction of Kanowit District. In 1973, Julau was upgraded into a district and is put under the administration of Sarikei Division.[11]
Julau is located at the intersection of Kanowit and Julau rivers.[12] [13] Julau is located at 66 km from Sarikei town, 48 km from Bintangor, 39 km from Kanowit, and 60 km from Sibu.[14] Floods happen in the Julau district in January 1968, January 1989, December 1993,[15] January 2003,[16] December 2011,[17] and March 2021.[18]
Julau has a tropical rainforest climate (Af) with heavy to very heavy rainfall year-round.
The first Christian missionary in Julau was spread by Liu Yang Xin (刘杨馨) in 1946 when she completed her studies at Singapore Nanyang Girls' High School. She started a Sunday school during her free time. However, the Sunday school stopped operating when she was transferred back to Singapore Nanyang Nanyang Girls' High School in the end of the same year. After that, intermittent Christian missionaries were sent here from 1948 to 1950. Only in 1958, a permanent Christian missionary was tasked to visit Julau once or twice a month to host Sunday worship services. In 1971, Julau Methodist Church was established. A Methodist kinder-garden was established in 1988.[12] [19]
Major economic activities in Julau are: black pepper, rubber, rice, and fruits farming. Other economic activities include: retail, logging, and services. Julau is better known for its black pepper production.[14]
For people from rural areas, their major mode of transport to Julau is plying through the rivers.[14]
Personal Vehicles
The first primary school in Julau was set up in 1946, named Wen Ming primary school (文明学校). It was hosted inside a catholic church. In 1950, the school was migrated into a new shophouse. In 1951, a formal school building was completed. All the pupils from Wen Ming primary school were migrated into the new school building. At the same time, the school was renamed Yuk Kung primary school. In 1956, the school formally accepted subsidies from the Sarawak government.[12] [20]
In 1966, SMK Julau started its operation in SK St. Alphonsus with only two classrooms. In 1970, SMK Julau moved to a new site which is the current site, Lembah Hilir Sungai Julau. The site was once belonged to Datuk Temenggong Banyang Anak Janting before he sold it to The State Government in 1968. On 22 March 1973, SMK Julau was officially launched by Yang Berhormat Tun Hussien Onn who was the Education Minister at the time.
SMK Julau did not provides any sixth form of secondary education, referred to as "Form 6". Students from Julau who want to continue their study in Form 6 to get a STPM's certificate have to either travel to the school in other districts such as SMK Meradong and SMK Bandar Bintangor by public bus or stay in hostel provided by those schools.
SMK Julau No.2 was built to support the need of Julau people in education especially for those who come from rural area.
Before a clinic was built, Julau people need to go to the nearest clinic available, especially in Kanowit & Sarikei to get their medical needs. Currently, there is only one clinic established in Julau.
There is a weekly Sunday market in Julau where people will gather here to sell a variety of agricultural products.[14] Fort Brooke is located at Nanga Meluan, 24 km away from Julau Town. The Fort was built by the Brooke government to hinder the attacks by Ibans.[21]