Background

Began with an English medium boy’s school known as Victoria Institution in veneration of Queen Victoria who was the British Royal Monarch at the time, the Victorian English Cottage architectural style was the inspiration of an English Senior Architect, A.C. Norman who was attached with the Public Works Department (PWD) in 1893.

The foundation stone was laid on 14 August 1893 by Lady William Hood Treacher who was the wife of Sir William Hood Treacher the Selangor British Resident at the time. The establishment of the school was conceived on the need for an English medium school in Kuala Lumpur which was comparable with Raffles Institution in Singapore. The school was officially opened on 3 July 1894 and Mr. Bennett Eyre Shaw undertook the responsibilities as the first Principal.

The financial allocation for the construction of the school was obtained from the excess of public subscription in conjunction with the Golden Jubilee Celebration of Queen Victoria in 1887 amounting $3,188 and $5,000 from government contribution.

His Royal Highness Sultan Sir Abdul Samad Ibni Al-Marhum Tengku Abdullah, the reigning Sultan of Selangor at the time also contributed $1,100 along with Three (3) leaders of the multi-racial society in Kuala Lumpur namely Yap Kwan Seng, Towkay Loke Yew and Tamboosamy Pillay who contributed $1,100 each. This made the overall total of allocation reaching $21,000.

Victoria Institution proudly stands as an education institution with various development to be proud of. On 28 March 1929, a new learning curriculum was introduced where drama and debate activities to form an integral additional curriculum. However, in the same year Victoria Institution was relocated to Petaling Hill due to the need for bigger space to accommodate the increase number of students as well as avoiding the impending massive flood problems that started around 1926.

The Victoria Institution Building was later occupied by students of Technical College Kuala Lumpur to continue their studies until it was relocated to University of Technology Malaysia (UTM) at Jalan Gurney or better known as Jalan Semarak in the 50’s. The building was later taken over by High Street School before it was moved to Setapak which was later known as Setapak High School.

The rise of cultural arts especially in the theatre and dance fields became apparent in the 70s and 80s when cultural arts lovers and activists around Kuala Lumpur turned Victoria Institution as Practice Centre, Gatherings as well as Stage for Arts and Cultural Activities.

In the 80s, Cultural Garden which is known at the time as Drama Theatre or Arts Centre was managed by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL). Various arts and cultural activities were held which indirectly further spurring cultural activities in Kuala Lumpur.

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