Heritage

Balai Pemuda Surabaya
About 96 years ago, The building in Jl. Pemuda Surabaya was built. Westmaes was the architect. It was said, the building was functioned as meeting room of Dutch people, It was nameed Simpang Societeit. In that era, Simpangsche Societeit was very exclusive. Here was Dutch people nestle, played three balls snooker or wood ball bowling. Some people said that the building was a club of whites. Its meaning, that the building id closed for native. It is also said, that made native Surabaya aggrieveded, Dutchman in Simpangsche Societeit have said, "Natives and dog may not step into here". This sentence clearly jab their feeling. Moreover, that sentence was written on a monument in Balai Pemuda. Simpangsche Societeit firstly addressed on Jl. Simpang. Nowadays become the Jl. Pemuda and last become Jl. Gubernur Suryo 15. Built above 17.000 square metres, other building exist in the complex is entertainment amusement building in westside, Societeit office manager as main building with the double dome facing Jl. Pemuda, and beverage warehouse in eastside. Nowadays, the beverage warehouse was unloaded several times till finally become the Mitra21 cinema. Others, snookers and bowling building in north of main building has similar form to entertainment amusement building in westside. Simpangsche Societeit is also provided with the manager housing exist in north side, facing Jl. Yos Sudarso. In the year of 1988, this building was the office of LVRI (Veteran Association), boy scout office, and Tourism office. Nowadays, they have losed to become the front page of Surabaya Legislative building. Entering independence period, Balai Pemuda used as meeting point for nationalist young fellow. Officially, this building become the Headquarter of PRI (Young fellow Indonesia Republic) at November 1945. The Movement young fellow at that period was so dinamic. Each moment, strategic issue related to struggle of independence was discussed on the building. It was include information from Jakarta, Bandung, and even abroad. Based on this note, Balai Pemuda declared as cultural pledge of Surabaya. Balai Pemuda is one among about 163 ancient building and sites enlisted in Pemkot Surabaya.