Reincarnation of Colomadu Sugar Factory

KOMPAS/ERWIN EDHI PRASETYA

Renovation works on the former Colomadu Sugar Factory in Karanganyar regency, Central Java, continue to take place on Monday (4/12). The heritage building is being renovated to accommodate a convention hall, museum, restaurant, shopping arcade, crafts shops and an international-class theater.

Built in 1861, the PG Colomadu sugar factory was among the most magnificent sugar mills during its heyday. Due to its old age, the PG Colomadu was eventually closed. However, after nearly two decades of its death, PG Colomadu is now about to rise again.

Construction workers are now busy with the former PG Colomadu sugar factory in Colomadu, Karanganyar regency, Central Java. On a Saturday early this month, several workers were seen scraping the wall of the building of the sugar factory. Some of the workers were on the roof, and some others were working on the chimney of the factory.

Among the busiest construction projects was in an open area that would be turned into a parking lot. In this area, an art performance was recently held to commemorate 156 years of PG Colomadu. A Solo Batik Carnival and a performance by Gilang Ramadhan Studio Band were held in the event titled “156 De Tjolomadoe Now.”

"This event was a kind of trial because when the Colomadu revitalization has been completed, it will become an international class venue that includes museums and art exhibition halls. The activity was a kind of warm-up," said Asikin Hasan, chairman of the organizing committee of 156 De Tjolomadoe Now, who is also a member of a community-based organization called Duduk Bareng (sitting together)

PG Colomadu was built on the order of KGPAA Mangkunegara IV, the ruler of the Mangkunegaran Duchy in 1861. In its early operations, PG Colomadu, which means honey mountain, was able to produce about 3,700 quintals of sugar. This factory gave large profits to the Mangkunegaran Duchy.

In November 2016, artistic dance maestro SardonoW. Kusumo hold a performance art titled “Expanded Performance.”

After the independence of Indonesia, PG Colomadu was last managed by state owned plantation company PT Perkebunan Nusantara (PTPN) IX. After operating for 136 years, in 1998 the plant was closed because it was no longer economically viable.

Since then, PG Colomadu\'s art deco buildings have been abandoned. The walls of the factory were peeled and covered by plant roots. The roof made from zinc was dislodged here and there and the machines were rusted. The old factory was dead and abandoned.

Artistic dance maestro Sardono W. Kusumo was inspired to hold Sardono\'s Retrospective art event Fabriek Fikr at the former PG Colomadu on November 2015. In November 2016, Sardono returned to the factory to hold a performance art titled “Expanded Performance.”

After having been abandoned for so long, the PG Colomadu sugar factory was finally revitalized by the central government. In April 2017, State Owned Enterprises (SOE) Minister Rini M. Soemarno laid the first stone marking the commencement of the renovation project.

Form a consortium

To revitalize PG Colomadu, six SOEs formed a consortium, namely PT Pembangunan Perumahan Tbk, PT PP Properties Tbk, PT Jasamarga Property, PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero), PT Patra Jasa, and PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan and Ratu Boko (Persero). The name of the consortium is PT Synergy Colomadu (Persero), which will work in cooperation with PTPN IX.

The revitalization work is carried out under the guidance of the Central Java Cultural Heritage Preservation Center.

"The current revitalization of the factory has been 70 percent completed. Our target is that by the end of February 2018, the first phase will be completed," said Edison Suwardi, general manager for the construction department of PT Synergy Colomadu.

Edison explained that in the first phase of the revitalization, the 13,000-square-meter PG Colomadu sugar factory would be turned into convention buildings, museums, restaurants, shopping centers, craft shops and international-class performance venues. The first phase is estimated to cost Rp 176 billion (US$12.98 million). "To mark the reopening of the former sugar factory, an international music concert will be held on March 24, 2018," he said.

Edison ensures the revitalization will preserve the cultural aspect of the former sugar factory. Therefore, the revitalization work is carried out under the guidance of the Central Java Cultural Heritage Preservation Center. "Because it\'s a cultural heritage building, the renovation is carried out with cultural preservation guidelines," he said.

As a cultural heritage site, PG Colomadu\'s physical form is maintained, including its towering chimney. Because of its age, the structure of the building needs strengthening.

The giant sugar cane grinding machines, which are located at the front of the building, will also remain in their original place. The machines were cleaned of rust and repainted. They will be one of the museum\'s flagship attractions. "Our goal is to highlight the factory building. After the revitalization is completed, it will show how magnificent the building is," he said.

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Renovation on the former Colomadu Sugar Factory in Karanganyar regency, Central Java, is seen on Monday (4/12). The sugar factory, which was built in 1861 and stopped operations in 1997, is being developed into a place for business, a museum and international conferences, but efforts have been made to maintain its heritage.

Soeracarta Heritage Society chairman Yunanto Sutyastomo highly appreciated efforts to keep the milling machines and the old buildings, which need to be formally established as a cultural heritage sites. Asikin, chairman of the organizing committee, is upbeat that the project will further revive art and music in Surakarta.

He believes that Surakarta has great potential. This is supported by the Indonesian Art Institute of Surakarta and March Eleven University, which has a school of art and design. Two years after the first phase of the revitalization is completed, star-rated hotels and amusement parks will be built in stages. This will turn the former sugar factory into a tourist destination, cultural art and business center.

"It\'s an effort to optimize assets and promote tourism in Surakarta and its surrounding area," said Edison.

The abandoned PG Colomadu sugar factory is now about to rise again to carve out the glorious history of the sugar industry in Java. The revival of PG Colomadu will promote tourism and art in Surakarta.