The Victoria Institution established in 1893 is one of the most prestigious secondary schools in Malaysia and the oldest in Kuala Lumpur, rivalling its neighbour, St. John’s Institution, and the Malay College, Kuala Kangsar.
The end of the 19th century in Malaya was an era of rapid economic and social expansion, particularly in Kuala Lumpur, and with the increase in the population there was a growing need for new schools. In view of this it was proposed that a new boys school be established and funds were donated by the Sultan of Selangor, Kapitan Yap Kwan Seng, K.Thamboosamy, Loke Yew, the British government and members of the general public. According to historian Chung Chee Min referring to J.M. Gullick’s account in his book Kuala Lumpur 1880-1895,-
As it happened, in March 1893, Sir William Treacher discovered a sum of $3,188 of unspent money in the Treasury which had been raised six years earlier by public subscription for the erection of a permanent memorial to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887. He then suggested to the donors that the sum could be used to build a school. With their agreement, this amount became the nucleus of a building fund for a memorial school that would be named “The Victoria Institution”.
On 14th August, 1893 the foundation stone was laid by Lady Treacher, wife of Sir William Treacher, Resident of Selangor, at its site next to the Klang River on High Street, and its first headmaster was Mr. Bennett Eyre Shaw from England who officially opened the school on July 30th, 1894. Mr. Shaw was to remain headmaster for 28 years and is credited with the development of the school in its early years and of laying of the foundations for its future success.
The initial enrolment was 115 boys and by the time of Mr. Shaw’s departure in 1922 it had reached nearly a thousand pupils. By then it was clear that new, larger premises was required to accommodate its rising numbers added to the fact that its site in a bend of the Klang River was prone to frequent flooding, so it was decided to move to a new site on Shaw Road, (now Jalan Hang Tuah), Petaling Hill.
The new premises, with its handsome clock tower set amongst magnificent old flame trees, was opened on March 26th, 1929 by Sir Hugh Clifford, High Commissioner of Malaya and continued to flourish. During WWII it was used by the Japanese as their headquarters and was famously the site of their surrender attended by Lieutenant-General Teizo of the 29th Imperial Japanese Army, and Lieutenant-General O.L.Roberts of the 34th Indian Corps on 29th February, 1945.
Malaysia 1786 - 1957 