Red Clock Tower, Melaka

The Red Clock Tower is a 50-foot-tall tower built in 1886 by Tan Jiak Kim, a Peranakan Chinese philanthropist who wanted to fulfil the wish of his father, Tan Beng Swee, to erect a clock tower in the center of Melaka. Tan Jiak Kim chose a prominent location beside the City Hall.

The tower’s red color blends well with the City Hall, particularly its contrasting white shutters. However, its design was not intended to reflect the Dutch colonial architecture of the former City Hall. Instead, the tower was reportedly constructed in Britain according to a Portuguese-inspired design resembling that of an earlier clock tower that had occupied the same site.

Its four clock faces use Roman numerals to display the time. The mechanism has continued operating for more than a century thanks to regular cleaning and maintenance. The clock tower also features a bird-of-prey sound system designed to deter crows and pigeons.