Julau

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][note 1] 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.[2][note 2]

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.[2][note 3] 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.[2][note 4] 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.[2][note 5] Motorboat companies were set up to connect Julau with other towns along the Rajang River such as Machan, Kanowit, and Sibu.[2][note 6] 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.[2][note 7]

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.[2][note 8] 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.[2][note 9] 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.[3]

Meradong and Julau District Council, Julau branch

• Julau District Office
• Julau Sub-District Education Department
• Julau District Agriculture Department
• Julau District Police Station
• Julau District Health Department
• Julau District Public Works Department
• Julau District Information Department
• Meradong-Julau District Council
• Julau District National Registration Department
• Julau District Social Welfare Department
• Julau Cooperative Development Department
• Julau District KEMAS Office
• Julau District Post Office
• Julau District RELA Office
• Julau District SESCO
• Julau District Telekom Malaysia

Julau is located at the intersection of Kanowit and Julau rivers.[2][note 10] Julau is located at 66 km from Sarikei town, 48 km from Bintangor, 39 km from Kanowit, and 60 km from Sibu.[4]

Julau has a tropical rainforest climate (Af) with heavy to very heavy rainfall year-round.

• 
  Julau Methodist church
• 
  Nurul Hidayah mosque

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.[2][note 11]

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.[4]

View of Julau river from the jetty.

For people from rural areas, their major mode of transport to Julau is plying through the rivers.[4]

Land

Public Bus

• Borneo Almagated Sdn. Bhd

Personal Vehicles

• Today, most of Julau people have their own personal transportation, such as car, motorcycle and van to travel to their destination.

Water

There are many remote places in Julau that have not reachable yet with land transportation and boat is the only solution for them to go there.

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