KUALA LUMPUR, XX (Bernama) – Bukit Dinding yang terletak di Wangsa Maju di sini mungkin tidak segah seperti Bukit Malawati di Kuala Selangor atau Bukit Chandu di Singapura yang menjadi lokasi pertahanan terakhir Leftenan Muda Adnan Saidi.

Hakikatnya bukit yang berkeluasan kira-kira 348 ekar (141 hektar) itu pernah menjadi ‘saksi’ tinggalan sejarah lama iaitu lokasi sejarah Perang Klang sekitar 1870-an dan kawasan sekitarnya aktif dengan kegiatan perlombongan timah dan ladang getah.

Malah, filem Do Re Mi dikatakan turut menggunakan latar belakang Bukit Dinding ketika , Allahyarham Tan Sri P Ramlee, Allahyarham A R Tompel dan Allahyarham Ibrahim Din menyanyikan lagu filem itu sambil berjalan kaki.

Di sebalik cerita itu, Bukit Dinding yang masih hijau dan popular sebagai lokasi rekreasi utama warga kota turut mempunyai khazanah geologi iaitu batuan Dinding Syis (eng:Dinding Schist), batuan tertua di ibu negara yang berusia sekitar 479 juta tahun melangkaui usia formasi batu kapur dan syis Hawthornden.

Pensyarah yang mengkaji geologi bukit tersebut, Prof Madya Dr Mustafa Kamal Abdul Aziz Mustafa Kamal berkata Dinding Syis yang turut diakui pengkaji sejak zaman penjajah adalah batu metamorfik berbutir yang terdiri daripada beberapa jenis batuan berbeza dan dicirikan oleh beberapa struktur ketakselanjaran, dengan ketebalan dianggarkan 3,000 m ke dalam.

Bukit Dinding ialah bukit berhutan setinggi 291m (menurut Google Earth 2022: 302m) di Kuala Lumpur, terletak di antara Setiawangsa dan Wangsa Maju. Bagi penduduk setempat, ianya dianggap kawasan hijau terakhir di situ. Lokasinya berdekatan dengan Highland Tower (di sebelah timurnya, yang telah runtuh pada 11 Disember 1993) dan Bukit Antarabangsa, yang merupakan sebahagian daripada Banjaran Titiwangsa.

Sekitar 1840-1850-an, kawasan lembangan Sungai Bunus (anak Sungai Klang) di barat daya Bukit Dinding yang dikenali sebagai “Gonggang” (sekitar Setapak kini) adalah antara pusat perlombongan bijih timah, selain sepanjang Sungai Gombak dan Sungai Klang.1] Sebelumnya, ia didiami warga peribumi Temuan.

Kawasan sekitar Bukit Dinding, termasuk Ulu Gonggang (hulu Sungai Bunus) di sebelah barat, dan lembah Sungai Gisir di sebelah utara, menjadi antara lokasi Perang Klang (1867-1874).2]

Menjelang zaman kolonial British sekitar 1880-an, kawasan perlombongan di Gonggang telah berkembang sehingga ke hulu Sungai Bunus di sebelah barat laut Bukit Dinding, iaitu di sekitar Wangsa Maju kini.3]

Pada Oktober 1888, Ladang “Ulu Gonggang” di Batu 5 Jalan Pahang Kuala Lumpur (di penghujung sebelah utara pusat perlombongan Gonggang) telah dibuka oleh J. A. Toynbee, bekas pengurus ladang Weld's Hill kepunyaan syarikat Messrs. Hill and Rathborne yang sedang giat membuka ladang-ladang kopi secara besar-besaran di kawasan sekitar itu. Ladang ini dinamakan sebagai Ladang Hawthornden.4] Ia berkembang ke timur/tenggara bersama Ladang Lincoln dan Aberscross, sehingga merangkumi hampir keseluruhan kawasan Bukit Dinding.5]

Sekitar tahun 1903-1906, Hawthornden Estate telah diambil alih oleh Loke Yew, dan diusahakan dengan lombong dan ladang getah.6] Sekitar tahun 1920, Gonggang Estate dibuka di sekitar Sungai Peran (anak Sungai Bunus), di sebelah selatan Bukit Dinding.7]

Pada 4 September 1965, kerajaan persekutuan telah mengumumkan perancangan sebuah perbandaran baru di Ladang Wardieburn, termasuk sebahagian kecil Ladang Hawthornden. Kemungkinan kawasan tersebut di sekitar Taman Bunga Raya kini.8]

Pada 9 Disember 1983, Pelan Induk untuk kawasan ini, dikenali sebagai Projek Pusat Pertumbuhan Bandar Baru Ladang Hawthornden, telah diluluskan. Sejak itu, Hawthornden Estate di sebelah barat Bukit Dinding mula dibangunkan menjadi Wangsa Maju, seksyen demi seksyen, iaitu Seksyen 1 (apartmen kos rendah), Seksyen 2 hingga 4 (apartmen kos sederhana), dan Seksyen 5 (rumah teres, apartmen dan kondominium).9]

Sepanjang tahun 1983-1995, kawasan Gonggang Estate di sebelah selatan Bukit Dinding mula dibangunkan oleh syarikat Island & Peninsular (I&P) Group Sdn Bhd, kemudiannya dikenali sebagai “Taman Setiawangsa”. Peringkat terakhir pembangunan ini ialah Puncak Setiawangsa, dan disiapkan pada tahun 1995.10]

Berikut adalah senarai sumber-sumber yang dirujuk dalam ringkasan ini (butiran penuh, di Nota Kaki):-

• Arkib Negara Malaysia (Surat dan dokumen pentadbir British - 9 rujukan)
• NewspaperSG (Arkib akhbar Singapura - 3 rujukan)
• Australian National University (Peta 1962, 1967, 1982 - 3 rujukan)
• Yale University Library (Peta 1904 - 1 rujukan)
• National Archives of Singapore (Peta 1883 - 1 rujukan)
• Arnold Wright, H.A. Cartwright, 1908 (Peranan Loke Yew di Hawthornden Estate 1906 - 1 rujukan)
• Jabatan Alam Sekitar, 2017 (Pelan Bandar Baru Ladang Hawthornden 1983 - 1 rujukan)
• Pejabat Perdana Menteri (Teks ucapan perasmian Wangsa Maju 1984 - 1 rujukan)

• Middlebrook / Gullick / Gibson-Hill, 1951 (Babak perang Klang di Bukit Dinding 1870-an - 1 rujukan)
• https://kl.pulasan.my/gonggang (Cebisan sejarah Gonggang 1850-1995 - 1 rujukan)
• Rajeswary Ampalavanar Brown, 2016 (Peranan Loke Yew di Hawthornden Estate 1906 - 1 rujukan)
• William Tai Yuen, 2010 (Peranan Loke Yew di Hawthornden Estate 1906 - 1 rujukan)
• Berita Harian (Malaysia), 2014 (Saksi air terjun di Setiawangsa 1960an - 1 rujukan)
• The Edge, 2019 (Sejarah Setiawangsa 1983-1995 - 1 rujukan)

Bagi kawasan bandar yang pesat membangun seperti Kuala Lumpur dan Lembah Klang, hampir keseluruhan kawasan yang tidak diwartakan sebagai hutan simpan, warisan, atau rizab, telah dan terus-menerus dibangunkan mengikut peredaran zaman moden. Kesannya, banyak tinggalan sejarah zaman kolonial (apatah lagi sebelum itu) telah musnah dan lenyap sama sekali, dan tidak dapat dikaji lagi, malah banyak yang telah pun dilupakan. Maklumat yang ada hanyalah catatan-catatan pentadbir dan sarjana kolonial British, yang hanya tertumpu pada perubahan dan peristiwa politik (menurut perspektif mereka), serta perkembangan kegiatan pentadbiran dan ekonomi kolonial British sahaja. Cebisan-cebisan sejarah yang telah dipersembahkan ini misalnya, sebahagian besarnya adalah berdasarkan sumber-sumber kolonial ini. Perspektif masyarakat tempatan serta penduduk peribumi asal kawasan ini, pada ketika atau sebelum zaman itu, tidak tercatat atau belum ditemui, dan kini kian lenyap.

Namun penulisan sejarah tidak pernah tetap dan muktamad, dan proses persejarahan masih terus berkembang sehingga kini. Ahli-ahli sejarah tempatan telah lama giat menjalankan persejarahan menurut perspektif tempatan, melalui pendekatan baru dan rentas disiplin (contohnya sejarah masyarakat peribumi, kampung, bandar, ladang, daerah dsbgnya, dari pelbagai sudut kajian seperti komuniti, sosial, ekonomi, ekologi, dsbgnya). Usaha-usaha ini melibatkan penafsiran semula sumber-sumber yang ada, atau penemuan sumber-sumber baru dalam pelbagai bentuk, di dalam dan luar negeri. Selain bahan-bahan sejarah di Arkib Negara, dan tinggalan binaan-binaan lama, warisan alam sekitar juga merupakan tinggalan sejarah zaman berzaman, yang berpotensi menjadi bahan kajian sejarah. Sebagaimana tinggalan sejarah yang lain, sekiranya ia dirosakkan atau dimusnahkan, maka hilanglah potensinya sebagai bahan kajian, buat selama-lamanya.

Walaubagaimanapun, realiti zaman moden memaksa pembangunan terus dijalankan, di kawasan-kawasan yang tidak/belum diwartakan sebagai simpanan, warisan, atau rizab. Maka langkah yang lebih realistik ialah mengenalpasti kawasan-kawasan yang tidak sesuai (atau kurang sesuai) dibangunkan dengan binaan-binaan, atas sebab-sebab keselamatan (kawasan sensitif), contohnya lereng-lereng bukit seperti Bukit Dinding, Bukit TM Wangsa Maju, Bukit Persekutuan, Bukit Pudu Ulu, dll, dan diusahakan pewartaannya sebagai hutan simpan, warisan, atau taman hutan. Selain untuk tujuan rekreasi bagi penduduk setempat, pemeliharaan ekosistem dan biodiversiti, serta daya tarikan pelancong alam semulajadi, ia juga dapat dikekalkan sebagai tinggalan sejarah, yang berpotensi menjadi bahan kajian. Sebagai contoh, terowong lama (dipercayai dibina tahun 1870-an) telah ditemui di sekitar Hutan Simpan Bukit Nanas pada tahun 2014, lebih 100 tahun setelah ia diwartakan pada tahun 1906. Mungkinkah ada tinggalan sejarah di Bukit Dinding, misalnya kesan-kesan Perang Klang, malah petempatan atau kegiatan peribumi asal sebelumnya? Warisan alam sekitar adalah umpama “saksi bisu”, menanti kajian para sejarawan rentas disiplin, dengan sumber, pendekatan dan kaedah/teknologi terkini, di masa akan datang.

Umumnya kawasan yang dinamakan “Gonggang” ialah kawasan perlombongan di lembangan Sungai Bunus, di antara Sungai Gombak dan Sungai Klang, termasuk sekitar Taman Tasik Titiwangsa, Air Panas dan Setapak Jaya kini. Menurut catatan Raja H.M. Yacob berjudul “Tarikh Raja Asal” (1934), Gonggang (Gerongkang) telah dibuka sekitar 1855 oleh Hulubalang Ali, salah seorang ketua di bawah Sutan Puasa. Catatan lisan Abdullah Hukum mengenai pengalamannya di Setapak sekitar tahun 1850-an turut menyatakan Sutan Puasa dan para pemimpin Mandailing sebagai ketua-ketua di sekitar Setapak (Gonggang) ketika itu. Manakala “Kampung Gonggang” pula mungkin merujuk kawasan-kawasan petempatan kediaman dan perkebunan yang berhampiran dengan pusat bandar Kuala Lumpur. Kampung ini meliputi sehingga ke Tanah Perkuburan Jalan Ampang (dahulu Perkuburan Gonggang) di sebelah selatan, Kampung Datuk Keramat di sebelah timur, dan bersempadan dengan KEMENTAH (dahulu Rifle Range) di sebelah timur laut. (Maklumat lanjut dan sumber-sumber: Gonggang / Setapak (1850-an)

Kawasan sekitar Bukit Dinding, termasuk Ulu Gonggang (hulu Sungai Bunus) di sebelah barat, dan lembah Sungai Gisir di sebelah utara, menjadi antara lokasi Perang Klang (1867-1874), di antara kumpulan Tengku Kudin dan Yap Ah Loy (menyebelahi Raja Abdullah) dengan kumpulan Syed Mashhor dan Chong Chong (menyebelahi Raja Mahadi). Di dalam salah satu babak pertempuran tersebut, pasukan Syed Mashhor telah menyerang pasukan Yap Ah Loy (diketuai Hiu Fatt and Tung Khoon) di Ulu Klang dari Ampang, manakala pasukan Chong Chong mara dari sebelah barat Bukit Dinding (yang kemudiannya menjadi Ladang Gonggang dan Hawthornden), lalu mengepung pihak lawan dari belakang, kemungkinan dari lembah Sungai Gisir di sebelah utara Bukit Dinding. Namun pasukan Yap Ah Loy yang lain (diketuai Chung Piang) sempat sampai ke lokasi kepungan dan setelah pertempuran yang panjang, berjaya mematahkan serangan lalu memaksa pasukan Chong Chong berundur kembali ke Ampang. (S. M. Middlebrook, J. M. Gullick and C. A. GIBSON-HILL @ Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (MBRAS), July 1951: “Yap Ah Loy (1837-1885)”, m.s. 56 - https://www.jstor.org/stable/41502993 ).

Kiri: Peta Bukit Dinding (dalam petak hijau) dan sekitarnya, berdasarkan peta tahun 1883: “Roads And Tracks Radiating From Kuala Lumpur, And Klang River, Malaya, 1883. Sketch Map shows K. Lumpor (Kuala Lumpur), parts of Klang River, landscape, hilly forests, hill names, hill hachures, roads, tracks, milestones, tin mines at Ulu Klang, Ampang, Pugu and Pataling (Petaling), police stations at Anak Ayer Batu, Kabu Lada and Damansara, tracks, swamps, river and clearings, Klang River, river bank, villages, Ginting Bidei, Klang Gates and others.” (Survey Department, Federated Malay States (F.M.S.) and Straits Settlements (S.S.), 1883 @ National Archives of Singapore: |"Roads And Tracks Radiating From Kuala Lumpur, And Klang River, Malaya").
Tengah: Lembah Sungai Gisir, 1967 (Bulatan merah), berdasarkan peta Malaysia : Director of National Mapping, 1967: |"Malaysia, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Series: L8010, Sheet 94k, 1967, 1:25 000").
Kanan: Lembah Sungai Gisir, kini (Bulatan merah), berdasarkan peta Mapcarta.

Ketika peringkat awal pentadbiran kolonial British pada tahun 1880-an, kawasan lembangan Sungai Bunus yang dikenali sebagai “Gonggang” (kemudiannya Setapak) telah pun menjadi antara pusat perlombongan bijih timah. Ia beransur berkembang sehingga ke hulu Sungai Bunus, iaitu di sekitar Wangsa Maju kini. Keadaan ini ada direkodkan di dalam sepucuk surat bertarikh 24 September 1883, daripada juruukur M'Carthy kepada H.F.Bellamy, ketika beliau mencadangkan pembinaan jalan baru bagi menghubungkan kedua-dua lokasi tersebut:-

“I have the honor to report for your information that while on a visit of inspection of the road leading to Kong Yap Soon's mine I heard that from this mine to the Boonoose, the whole country was being opened up and a great deal is(?) working orderly. Chinese towkays who have some time past been turning out good tin ore. Under the circumstances I thought it worth while to proceed along the bridle path for about a mile or so past Kong Yap Soon's mine. After proceeding about 400 yds I came upon a mine lately opened on which many Chinese were working. About 1/2 a mile further on, extensive mining operations are being carried on & from the number of sheds ? this place has the appearance of a promising village. I noticed several hundred Chinese at work here & busily engaged. From the general appearance of the country, I should imagine the output will be good, altho, as the country is flat, machinery would have a very beneficial effect. From this last point to Ulu Boonoose (a direct line) through open country, several mines I believe are being opened up, and I was informed that probably before long the whole line of country leading to U. B. will be taken up either for mining or agriculture. I bring this matter under your notice as one of deserving of consideration as I feel convinced that if the road being completed by Sr. Akes(?) was contd. direct to U. Boonoose (abt. 2 1/2 or 3 miles) and coming in on the Pahang Road would prove very valuable to this district. There is at present a great traffic from the vicinity along K Yap Soon's Road to K. Lumpur, and at no distant date I anticipate as much traffic on this road as the Ampang Road. It is needless for me to note that roads are in all countries generally reproductive, and if this road to U. Boonoose were constructed I feel sure that the revenue from mining would soon cover the outlay. The country is flat without being swampy & a road of easy construction could without any difficulty be made. It should no doubt be advisable if you were to make an inspection of the country herein referred to. Until this matter receives your consideration, I have asked Sr. Akes(?) not to continue the deviation leading into Kong Yap Soon's mine, as it can only serve the purposes of one individual.”

(Sumber: PEJABAT SETIAUSAHA KERAJAAN NEGERI SELANGOR, 24/09/1883: |"CONSTRUCTION OF GONGGANG ROAD TO ULU BUNOSE").

Pada Oktober 1888, Ladang “Ulu Gonggang” di Batu 5 Jalan Pahang Kuala Lumpur (di penghujung sebelah utara pusat perlombongan Gonggang) telah dibuka oleh F. A. Toynbee, bekas pengurus ladang Weld's Hill kepunyaan syarikat Messrs. Hill and Rathborne: “I have the honour to enclose an application from Mr. F. A. Toynbee, Manager of Weld's Hill Estate for one thousand acres of land lying between the 5th mile post Pahang Road and Ulu G®onggang for the purpose of planting coffee and pepper, as shown on his rough sketch attached to his letter. The land is hilly and well suited for the purpose, and though bordering on extensive mining properties, is not likely, on account of its conformation, to be required for mines. I therefore recommend that it be granted to Mr. Toynbee at the usual figure for forest land of $3 premium and 10c quit rent per acre, and that he be allowed the refusal of the intervening land, which is of the same nature, for 3 years, or the first choice of taking it up if it be applied for in the meantime by other parties. No exclusive right to the timber on the land can be granted, but the right of the lessee to cut what he wants for himself is not likely to be interfered with by the Government.” (Henry Conway Belfield @ PEJABAT SETIAUSAHA KERAJAAN NEGERI SELANGOR, 09/10/1888: |"ENCLOSES AN APPLICATIONS FROM MR.F.A.TOYNBEE MANAGER OF WELDS HILLS ESTATE FOR ONE THOUSAND ACRES OF LAND LYING BETWEEN THE 5TH MILE POST PAHANG ROAD AND ULU GONGGANG FOR THE PURPOSE OF PLANTING COFFEE & PEPPER").

Kemungkinan ladang Ulu Gonggang ini berkembang ke Batu 6 Jalan Pahang, dan dinamakan sebagai Ladang Hawthornden. Ladang ini kemudiannya berkembang ke timur/tenggara sehingga merangkumi sebahagian besar kawasan Bukit Dinding: “The opening of the Hawthornden Estate on the Pahang Road (6th mile) has given an impetus to planting enterprise in this direction. A second private planting company has taken up a thousand acres in this direction and commenced work already. Mr. Toynbee, late manager for Messrs. Hill and Rathborne, has done a great deal towards proving the success of planting enterprise in this state and it is to be hoped that the private enterprise on which he is now embarking will bring him the success he deserves.” (The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (Weekly), 5 July 1889, Page 15: |"SELANGOR NEWS").

“To: The Hon. W. E. (William Edward) Maxwell. ? British Resident, Selangor. Sir, I have the honor to acknowledge and thank you for your letter of the 24th August 89 and to inform you that I have communicated with my Singapore partners on the subject as I am anxious to learn their views regarding paying the premium in full or remitting(?) premium, as I understand from your letter you are kind enough to take this into consideration. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, F. A. Toynbee.” (PEJABAT SETIAUSAHA KERAJAAN NEGERI SELANGOR, 02/09/1889: |"ACKNOWLEDGES LETTER OF 24TH AUGUST '89 RE REMISSION OF PREMIUMS ON CONCESSIONS").

Kerja-kerja ukur telah dijalankan di Ladang Hawthornden (bersama Ladang Lincoln dan Aberscross di kawasan yang sama) mulai tahun 1890, untuk tujuan pemetaan dan pengeluaran geran bagi ladang-ladang tersebut. Ianya hanya dapat diselesaikan pada tahun 1892, oleh kerana terdapat kawasan hutan tebal di sebelah timur (kemungkinan menghala ke Bukit Dinding) yang dikatakan sebagai punca kelewatan (PEJABAT SETIAUSAHA KERAJAAN NEGERI SELANGOR, 16/06/1892: “REQUESTS THAT ALL DESPATCH BE USED IN COMPLETING THE RESURVEY OF LINCOLN AND HAWTHORNDEN ESTATES.” - https://ofa.arkib.gov.my/ofa/group/asset/41728 ).

Pada 10 Jun 1892, L. Dougal (pemilik Lincoln Estate, dan rakan kongsi F.A. Toynbee di Hawthornden Estate), memohon peluasan ladang di sebelah timur kawasan sedia ada: “Hawthornden Estate, Selangor. 10th June 1892. Sir, I have the honor to inform you that for some months past I have been negotiating with my friends in Europe re opening a Coffee Estate in Selangor & by last mail received a favorable reply. I enclose sketch showing the land I am desirous of taking up for this purpose. I shall be glad to hear on an early date.”

Pihak pentadbir mengarahkan tinjauan dibuat, kerana khuatir tanah yang dipohon itu bertindan dengan Aberscross Estate: “Govt. Sec S., Please pass to Survey Office and ask them to plot Aberscross on the district plan. I can then establish some connection between the position of Aberscross and the customary holdings in the neighbourhood. -?, 13/6”

Setelah Residen melawat kawasan tersebut, kemungkinan permohonan ini ditarik balik kerana bertindan dengan Aberscross Estate milik Murray Campbell itu: “Govt. Sec S., The ? ? this application is enclosed in ? 4511/92 in which paper I have referred to this one. On the occasion of the Resident's visit to the coffee estates on the 3rd inst. I understood ? ? to withdraw application which clashes with that of Mr Murray Campbell. -?, 18.7”

Kiri: Lakaran peta L. Dougal menunjukkan permohonan peluasan tanah ladang mereka (ditandakan hijau tua), di sebelah timur tanah yang asal (ditandakan hijau muda)
Kanan: Menurut peta tahun 1904, kawasan yang dipohon itu (yang didapati bertindan dengan Aberscross Estate, ditandakan hijau tua), turut meliputi sebahagian kawasan hulu Sungai Gisir di lereng Bukit Dinding. (berdasarkan peta Edinburgh Geographical Institute, 1904 @ Yale University Library - Digital Collections: |"Selangor, Federated Malay States, 1904 / John Bartholomew & Co ; W.T. Wood, chief draftman").

(Sumber: Arkib Negara 1957/0032443W, 10/06/1892: |"APPLIES FOR A PIECE OF LAND IN THE DISTRICT OF SETAPAK FOR THE PURPOSES OF OPENING A COFFEE ESTATE.").

Kerja-kerja ukur telah dijalankan di Ladang Hawthornden (bersama Ladang Lincoln dan Aberscross di kawasan yang sama) mulai tahun 1890, untuk tujuan pemetaan dan pengeluaran geran bagi ladang-ladang tersebut. Ianya hanya dapat diselesaikan pada tahun 1892 (mungkin setelah permohonan L. Dougal pada 10 Jun 1892 seperti yang diperincikan di atas), oleh kerana terdapat kawasan hutan tebal di sebelah timur (kemungkinan menghala ke Bukit Dinding) yang dikatakan punca kelewatan:-

“On 6th August 1890 Mr. Surveyor Raymond commenced the survey of the Hawthornden Estate and continued same until 16th Sept. He recommenced on 21st Sept. and completed in Dec. and finally transmitted plan on 30 Dec. 90. … The Chief Surveyor was not satisfied with the manner in which these surveys had been executed, and on 12.5.92 issued instructions for the re-survey of the Lincoln Estate … Mr. Raymond was also instructed to re-survey the Hawthornden Estate, which he is now engaged on. He informs me that he will finish the re-survey of the estates about the end of the present month. There was a large quantity of extra work, and office work in the survey of the Hawthornden Estate. - 11.6.92” (PEJABAT SETIAUSAHA KERAJAAN NEGERI SELANGOR, 28/05/1892: |"REQUEST TO CALL FOR THE CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING THE HAWTHORNDEN & LINCOLN ESTATES SAVING").

“Amended Survey: Licensed Surveyor J. Walter Raymond to the Acting Chief Surveyor transmitting plan of and report on Amended Survey of Aberscross Estate - Numbered 3 in the Mukim of Setapak. Kuala Lumpur, July 27th 1892. … Although I have now surveyed a route along which a road can be constructed at a very easy gradient there are nevertheless several places along the line adopted where it may be necessary (in the event of a road being constructed) ten or twelve chains through the jungle to the eastern boundary line were impracticable, and was obliged to abandon this route after losing three days in the attempt to carry out my verbal instructions. I then searched for a better route, and the road now shown on my plan (herewith) is the one I finally adopted. Part of the road I was obliged to cut through heavy jungle at the far side of the course, and also as all the angle pegs had to be brought out from Kwala Lumpur (part of the way carried by bullock cart, and the remaining distance by my survey coolies). I althogether was seven working days occupied in finishing this work which I at first hoped would only take about three days to complete.” (PEJABAT SETIAUSAHA KERAJAAN NEGERI SELANGOR, 16/06/1892: |"REQUESTS THAT ALL DESPATCH BE USED IN COMPLETING THE RESURVEY OF LINCOLN AND HAWTHORNDEN ESTATES.").

Pada tahun 1903, Loke Yew telah diberi lesen melombong bijih timah di keseluruhan Hawthorden Estate, dengan keluasan maksima seluas 500 ekar. Setakat tahun 1909, beliau telah membuka seluas ~262 ekar di dalam ladang ini. Jumlah besar keluasan lombong beliau ialah 7,191 ekar, dengan pekerja seramai 15,072 orang: “In 1903 Loke Yew was granted a license to prospect the whole of this Estate for tin with the right to select up to 500 acres; at a premium of $10/- an acre for uncultivated land and $5/- an acre for cultivated land, vide correspondence 6679/03. He has selected in all 262 acres 2 reeds 20 poles and this area he holds under mining lease. … The Warden of Mines reports that Loke Yew holds 7191 acres of mining land and employs 15072 coolies.” (Arkib Negara 1957/0149032W, 01/09/1909: |"APPLICATION FROM TOWKAY LOKE YEW FOR MINING RIGHTS OVER 140 ACRES OF LAND AT SETAPAK FORMING PART OF HOWTHORNDEN ESTATE HELD BY HIM UNDER GRANT NO. 1520").

Contoh surat kelulusan lombong Loke Yew, melibatkan blok seluas 30 ekar di sebahagian Hawthornden Estate, pada 17 Mac 1904: “Office of the Secretary to Resident, K.L. 17 March 1904. Sir, I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, dated 10th Feb 1904 & numbered L 108/04. Subject: Application of Towkeh Loke Yew for 30 acres of land for mining rights on portion 1, Setapak Mukim. and to inform you that the application for mining rights over the portion coloured red in the tracing was considered in Council on 29th February and approved at a premium of $10 per acre. The area to be mined should be excused from the agricultural title. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, ?, for Secretary to Resident, Sel. To C.L.R., K.L.”

Kiri: Lakaran peta lokasi lombong Loke Yew di Hawthornden Estate yang dirujuk oleh surat kelulusan di atas, ditandakan merah.
Kanan: Lokasi lakaran, ditandakan kuning, pada peta tahun 1904. Lokasi lombong ditandakan merah di dalamnya (Berdasarkan peta Edinburgh Geographical Institute, 1904 @ Yale University Library - Digital Collections: |"Selangor, Federated Malay States, 1904 / John Bartholomew & Co ; W.T. Wood, chief draftman").

(Sumber: Arkib Negara 1957/0114444W, 10/02/1904: |"TOWKEH LOKE YEW - APPLIES FOR MINING RIGHTS ON PORTION 1 SETAPAK MUKIM").

Ini merupakan sebahagian daripada lesen perlombongan berluas maksimum 500 ekar, yang telah diluluskan untuk Loke Yew di sekitar Setapak. Hal ini turut dilaporkan di akhbar-akhbar ketika itu:-

• “Messrs. Loke Yew and C. Meikle have been granted prospecting licenses over agricultural lands at Setapak with an area of 500 and 300 acres for selection respectively.” (Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle, 4 May 1904, Page 3: |"The States Day By Day").

• “We learn from our Kuala Lumpur comtemp. that Towkay Loke Yew is reopening his tin mine at Setapak on a large scale.” (Straits Echo, 15 February 1905, Page 4: |"Lawn Tennis"; The Straits Echo (Mail Edition), 17 February 1905, Page 123: |"Plague").

Pada tahun 1906, berikutan kenaikan harga getah, Loke Yew telah memanfaatkan modal hasil bijih timahnya untuk mengubah kebanyakan tanah-tanah lombongnya kepada perladangan. Hawthornden Estate turut dijadikan campuran ladang getah dan lombong bijih timah (300 ekar lombong, 300 ekar tanaman getah), di bawah pengurusan Mr. A.G. Crane. Jumlah keluasan keseluruhan Hawthornden Estate menjelang tahun 1910 ialah 2,400 ekar:-

• “Loke Yew continued to demonstrate a lack of long term commitment to the industry. In 1901 he had established the Serendah & Jeher Hydraulic Co. in partnership with Loke Chow Thye and Loke Chow Kit, working on rich mining land in Serendah, Setapak and the surrounding areas. But at the beginning of the rubber boom in 1906 he sold the company and converted the land to rubber cultivation.” (Rajeswary Ampalavanar Brown, 2016: Capital and Entrepreneurship in South-East Asia, m.s. 86).

• “Capital accumulated in the tin-mining industry was a significant source of investment in the rubber planting industry. As Chinese tin miners faced increasing challenges from European companies at the turn of the century, rubber planting provided them with a new outlet of investment. The Cantonese built up a strong presence in the rubber planting industry as the majority of leading Chinese tin miners were Cantonese. Loke Yew accumulated a vast holding of rubber estates in the 1900s, adding a new dimension to his business empire of tin mining, revenue farming, properties and miscellaneous investments. By 1910 he had several large rubber estates: the Kalumpang and Wayat Estates with W. de L. Brooke as manager and the Changkat Asa Estate with Ho Siew Chee as manager within his concession at Tanjong Malim, Perak; the 2,400-acre Hawthornden Estate with A.G. Crane as manager, the 2,000-acre Bukit Kamuning Estate with R.V. McClelland as manager, and the Serendah Estate in Selangor with P. Hoffner as manager. (Singapore and Straits Directory 1910, p. 396; Singapore and Straits Directory 1920, p. 487.) In 1897 Loke Yew was granted 20,000 acres of land in Ulu Bernam, Selangor, for paddy planting purposes. By 1905 about 4,000 acres in the concession were planted with gambier, pepper, rubber and coconuts, while the original paddy scheme had been dropped. … In terms of the size of rubber estate holdings, he was one of the biggest Chinese rubber estate owners in the 1910s. (Wright and Cartwright, Twentieth Century Impressions, pp. 435-6.)” (William Tai Yuen @ The University of Hong Kong, June 2010: |"Chinese Capitalism in Colonial Malaya, 1900-1941", m.s.193).

• “Mr. A.G. Crane - Born in Singapore on June 27, 1871, this gentleman is a son of the late Mr. C. E. Crane, who carried on business as a valuer and commission agent in that city for many years, and is now living in retirement in England. After leaving Dedham Grammar School, Mr. A.G. Crane was for some time on his Majesty's training-ship Worcester. He then came out to the East and joined his father's business. Two years later he entered the service of a mercantile firm, and remained with them for two years, when, owing to ill-health, he had to go to Canada. In that country he resided for three years, when, owing to ill-health, he had to go to Canada. In that country he resided for three years, two of which were spent i a silk house and the other in a salmon-tinning business. Returning to the Far East, he joined the Perak Government service, and was in it for four years. At the end of this engagement Mr. Crane went to England to study mining and mineralogy. Having gone through a short college term, he returned to the Federated Malay States in 1904, and, on behalf of a Perak Syndicate, prospected for tin ore in Western Siam for a year and a half. Having selected two tin concessions for the syndicate, he returned to Kuala Lumpor and accepted Towkay Loke Yew's offer of the management of Hawthornden estate, which comprises about 300 acres of tin-mining land and 300 acres planted with rubber. Mr. Crane is an enthusiastic amateur photographer.” (Arnold Wright, H.A. Cartwright, 1908: "Twentieth century impressions of British Malaya: its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources", m.s. 893).

Menurut rekod Pihak Berkuasa Kemajuan Pekebun Kecil Perusahaan Getah (RISDA) tahun 1958, Gonggang Estate ketika itu dimiliki oleh Khor Joo Saik dan diurus oleh suaminya Dr Chua Boon Teck, dan penanaman getah kali pertama dijalankan di ladang tersebut sekitar tahun 1921 (Arkib Negara 1992/0006821W, 05/11/1958: |"GONGGANG ESTATE - DR.CHUA BOON TECK (MANAGER) 34, KLYNE STREET K.LUMPUR").

Peta Gonggang Estate (kanan) dan kawasan sekitarnya (kiri), berdasarkan peta Director of National Mapping, Malaysia, 1962: |"Malaysia, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Series: L7010, Sheet 94, 1962, 1:63 360").

Kelihatan Sungai Peran (anak Sungai Bunus) merentasi kawasan perladangan Gonggang Estate di sebelah selatan.

Menurut Presiden Pertubuhan Suara Setiawangsa, Harun Mohd Amin, sehingga tahun 1960-an terdapat sebuah air terjun di situ, yang kini telah dikambus atau diubah alirannya mengikut binaan sistem perparitan baru: “… Presiden Pertubuhan Suara Setiawangsa, Harun Mohd Amin berkata, rancangan pembangunan di Bukit Dinding perlu dikaji sebaiknya kerana ia bukan sekadar bukit tetapi merupakan kawasan tadahan dan mempunyai laluan air. Harun juga mendakwa berdasarkan sejarah Bukit Dinding, dahulunya terdapat aliran air terjun namun telah ditutup. “Dalam tahun 60-an ada air terjun di Bukit Dinding jadi ia tidak boleh dibangunkan. Bukannya kita tolak pembangunan, tetapi pembangunan ini akan sengsarakan generasi akan datang,” katanya.” (Hidayah Hairom @ Sinar Harian, 20 November 2014 @ Pusat Maklumat Malaysiana, Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia: “Bukit Dinding diancam bahaya” - https://www.pnm.gov.my/index.php/pages/view/44|“Bukit Dinding diancam bahaya ).

Pada 3 September 1965, kerajaan persekutuan telah mengumumkan perancangan sebuah perbandaran baru di Ladang Wardieburn, termasuk sebahagian kecil Ladang Hawthornden. Kemungkinan kawasan tersebut di sekitar Taman Bunga Raya kini. Ini adalah antara pembangunan terawal yang melibatkan Ladang Hawthornden, yang kemudiannya berkembang ke timur/tenggara, ke arah Bukit Dinding: “Ladang Wardieburn di-Jalan Ulu Klang menjadi sa-buah “Bandar Baru” yang paling moden sa-kali di-Ibukota ini manakala Kerajaan membena kira2 200 penchakar langit 17 tingkat yang mengandongi 42,000 rumah pangsa mulai awal tahun hadapan. … Projek tersebut yang dibahagikan kepada 11 kawasan berasingan akan meliputi seluroh kawasan ladang itu sa-luas 828 ekar termasuk sa-bahagian kechil dari kawasan Ladang Hawthornden.” (Berita Harian, 4 September 1965, Page 5: |"Bandar baru penchakar langit di-Ulu Klang").

Peta Hawthornden Estate (kanan) dan kawasan sekitarnya (kiri), berdasarkan peta Malaysia : Director of National Mapping, 1967: |"Malaysia, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Series: L8010, Sheet 94k, 1967, 1:25 000").

Peta Hawthornden Estate (kanan) dan kawasan sekitarnya (kiri), berdasarkan peta Malaysia, Jabatanarah Pemetaan Negara @ American Geographical Society Library, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, 1982: |"Kuala Lumpur / diterbitkan oleh Pengarah Pemetaan Negara". Ketika ini belum ada sebarang pembangunan di Bukit Dinding dan sebahagian besar Ladang Hawthornden di sebelah baratnya.

Pada 9 Disember 1983, Pelan Induk bagi kawasan ini, dikenali sebagai Projek Pusat Pertumbuhan Bandar Baru Ladang Hawthornden, telah diluluskan. Sejak itu, kawasan Wangsa Maju dibangunkan, seksyen demi seksyen, iaitu Seksyen 1 (apartmen kos rendah), Seksyen 2 hingga 4 (apartmen kos sederhana), dan Seksyen 5 (rumah teres, apartmen dan kondominium). Di dalam pelan tersebut, sebahagian daripada Bukit Dinding (ditandakan sebagai “R-12”) telah pun diwartakan sebagai “Tapak Kediaman”, namun tidak dibangunkan, dan masih kekal sebagai kawasan hutan sehingga kini: “Sebelum tahun 1980, keseluruhan kawasan Wangsa Maju merupakan ladang getah yang dikenali sebagai Ladang Hawthornden. Pada tahun 1983, Pelan Induk untuk kawasan ini, dikenali sebagai Projek Pusat Pertumbuhan Bandar Baru Ladang Hawthornden, telah diluluskan, dan ditunjukkan di rajah Figure 3. Tapak Projek ini terletak dalam sector R-12. Gunatanah yang dicadangkan untuk sector R-12 adalah Apartmen Kos Tinggi. Sejak itu, dalam masa 30 tahun sebelum ini, kawasan Wangsa Maju kian dibangunkan, seksyen demi seksyen. Seksyen 1 (apartmen kos rendah), Seksyen 2 hingga 4 (apartmen kos sederhana), dan Seksyen 5 (rumah teres, apartmen dan kondominium) semua telah siap dibangunkan.” (ERINCO Sdn Bhd @ Enviro Knowledge Management Center (EKMC), Jabatan Alam Sekitar, Julai 2017: |"EIA for the Proposed Residential and Commercial Development On Lot 26413 Mukim Setapak and Lot 3538 Mukim Ulu Kelang, Kuala Lumpur For Nova Pesona Sdn Bhd", m.s. 6).

“FIGURE 3: Approved Masterplan for Bandar Baru Ladang Hawthornden” (Peremba Berhad, 9 Disember 1983: Land Use Plan, Kawasan Hawthornden Development Project @ ERINCO Sdn Bhd @ Enviro Knowledge Management Center (EKMC), Jabatan Alam Sekitar, Julai 2017: |"Environment Impact Assessment Report: Proposed Residential and Commercial Development On Lot 26413 Mukim Setapak and Lot 3538 Mukim Ulu Kelang, Kuala Lumpur For Nova Pesona Sdn Bhd:").

Bandar Baru Ladang Hawthornden telah dirasmikan oleh Perdana Menteri ketika itu, Tun Mahathir Mohamad, pada 26 Februari 1984. (PERDANA DIGITAL, Pejabat Perdana Menteri: |"PERASMIAN BANDAR BARU DI LADANG HAWTHORNDEN").

Sepanjang tahun 1983-1995, Ladang Gonggang Estate, termasuk kawasan kaki dan lereng sebelah barat daya Bukit Dinding, mula dibangunkan oleh syarikat Island & Peninsular (I&P) Group Sdn Bhd, kemudiannya dikenali sebagai “Taman Setiawangsa”. Peringkat terakhir pembangunan ini ialah Puncak Setiawangsa, dan disiapkan pada tahun 1995:-

”“Setiawangsa caters mainly for the upper-middle to upper class. The terraced houses there, especially in Puncak Setiawangsa, are priced from RM700,000 to RM1.5 million while the semidees and bungalows cost RM1.5 million to RM2 million and RM3 million to RM7 million respectively,” says LaurelCap Sdn Bhd executive director Stanley Toh. “Thus, only a certain income group can afford the properties there.” The non-landed residential properties in the area fetch about RM400 psf. According to Toh, Taman Setiawangsa was developed by Island & Peninsular (I&P) Group Sdn Bhd. “Taman Setiawangsa was developed by I&P Group. The foothill and mid-hill areas were developed in stages in the 1980s before work started on Puncak Setiawangsa, which was completed in 1995,” he says. The 100ha suburb comprises about 3,092 residential units, a large portion of which are freehold, he adds. According to Metro REC Sdn Bhd managing director Ng Weng Yew, Setiawangsa is also the operational base for multinational corporations such as Texas Instruments Inc and pharmaceutical company Fidin Universal Sdn Bhd. “Setiawangsa is also well known for Bukit Dinding, a hill that houses a 200-acre forest,” says Ng. … “Setiawangsa comprises foothill and mid-hill areas such as Taman Setiawangsa, Puncak Setiawangsa and Bukit Setiawangsa,” says Ainnura Aerina Sabirin, who grew up in the area.“ (Hannah Rafee @ The Edge Malaysia, January 31, 2019: |"Cover Story: Still a popular address for property buyers").

Peta sekitar Gonggang Estate, tahun 1967 (berdasarkan peta Malaysia : Director of National Mapping, 1967: |"Malaysia, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Series: L8010, Sheet 94k, 1967, 1:25 000") dan kini (berdasarkan Google Maps). Garis biru: Sungai Peran, anak Sungai Bunus yang merentasi Gonggang Estate (sempadan hijau, iaitu Setiawangsa kini): “Sungai Bunus mempunyai kawasan tadahan seluas 17 kilometer persegi meliputi kawasan Wangsa Maju dan Setiawangsa. Dua anak sungai utamanya ialah Sungai Air Panas yang mengalir dari kawasan tadahan Wangsa Maju dan Sungai Peran meliputi kawasan tadahan Setiawangsa.” (Jabatan Pengairan dan Saliran Malaysia, 2020: |"Laporan Tahunan 2020", m.s.88). Bulatan cokelat: Puncak Bukit Dinding. Bulatan ungu: puncak bukit-bukit kecil, sebagai beberapa mercu tanda kawasan ini. Bulatan merah: Kawasan Perkuburan Loke Yew.

Selain petikan dan sumber yang dinyatakan, rencana ini telah diusahakan oleh TMK Pulasan, di bawah kelolaan Syahrul Sazli Shaharir <sazli@pulasan.my>. Pengakuan penting: Kami bukan ahli sejarah! Sila klik di sini untuk penjelasan lanjut.