British Military Barracks, Central, Hong Kong

Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HK_Museum_of_Tea_Ware_2012.JPG
Author: Tksteven


The British Military Barracks in Central, Hong Kong, include the Victoria Barracks, Murray Barracks and Wellington Barracks. Also part of the former British Military Zone in Central was Admiralty Dock.

The British military barracks have undergone various uses over the ages. They were taken over by the Japanese army during the Second World War. During the Occupation, the Japanese erected a number of structures, such as the Shinto-style arch.

Today a number of buildings of the British Military Barracks are recognized as Grade I and Grade II historic buildings. The Former Explosives Magazine complex is now a Grade I Historic Building, and houses the Asia Society Hong Kong Centre. Those recognised as Grade II Historic Buildings include the Cassel Block, Rawlinson House, Wavell House, Montgomery Block and Roberts Block, all within Victoria Barracks. A number of buildings in the Victoria Barracks have been re-used. Flagstaff House, for example, today houses the Museum of Tea Ware.

Rawlinson House, Victoria Barracks, Hong Kong


Apart from Victoria Barracks, other barracks within the British Military Zone are the Murray Barracks and Wellington Barracks. The Murray Barracks was originally called the Officer's Mess. It was then renamed Murray House, after Sir George Murray, the Master-General of the Ordnance at the time the building was originally constructed. It was originally situated between the present Garden Road and Cotton Tree Drive. When the Bank of China building was to be constructed at its spot, the building had to be dismantled, and for the next 15 years, the stones were just stored away until 2002, when it was reassembled and re-built in Stanley.

The Wellington Barracks was a three-storey building erected in 1854. It was demolished in 1992.

Former Explosives Magazine, Old Victoria Barracks