Galaksi Park (Jember Tobacco Warehouse)

The Golden Trail of Golden Leaves: History and Transformation of Galaksi Park (Jember Tobacco Warehouse)

Jember Regency has long held the title of "Tobacco City." This nickname is not merely an administrative label but an identity deeply rooted in the history of colonialism and the development of agrarian economies in East Java. One of the silent monuments that bears witness to the glory of tobacco is the complex now known as Galaksi Park, or historically, a series of Tobacco Warehouses from the Dutch era.

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Origins and Establishment: The Era of Besoeki Tabak Maatschappij

The history of Galaksi Park cannot be separated from the Cultuurstelsel (Cultivation System) policy and the opening of large plantations by European private entrepreneurs in the mid-19th century. Around the 1850s, George Birnie, a Dutch entrepreneur, along with his colleagues, founded Besoeki Tabak Maatschappij (BTM). This company transformed Jember's landscape from wilderness into vast plantations of Vorstenlanden and Besuki Na-Oogst tobacco.

The warehouses that now stand in the Galaksi Park area were built gradually from the late 19th to the early 20th century. Their primary function was as drying (droogschuur) and initial processing facilities for tobacco leaves before export to Bremen, Germany, or Amsterdam, Netherlands. Jember was chosen for its regosol soil characteristics and climate, which were highly suitable for producing world-class cigar tobacco.

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Distinct Vernacular-Colonial Architecture

Architecturally, the Tobacco Warehouses in Galaksi Park possess very specific and unique characteristics, rarely found in other urban colonial buildings. The structure of these buildings is a blend of technical function and adaptation to the local environment.

1. Gigantic Dimensions: These warehouses are known for their exceptionally large and tall dimensions. Their soaring roofs were designed to facilitate massive air circulation, crucial for drying tobacco leaves to prevent spoilage.

2. Natural Materials: In the early stages of construction, the warehouse walls were predominantly made of woven bamboo (gedek) with sturdy teak wood frames. The use of bamboo was not solely for economic reasons but also due to its porous nature, allowing natural airflow and maintaining stable internal humidity.

3. Folded Roofs: The roofs generally feature a gable design with steep pitches, often initially covered with palm thatch or reeds, before later being replaced with zinc or asbestos in more modern periods.

4. Nail-Free Construction: One unique fact about the ancient construction of these warehouses is the use of a strong system of wooden pegs and coir rope bindings, which provided the buildings with flexibility against earthquake tremors.

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Historical Significance in Global Trade

Galaksi Park is more than just a storage facility; it is a symbol of the "Tobacco Fever" that once swept Europe. Tobacco from these Jember warehouses once set the highest standard for cigar wrappers in the international market. The most striking historical event is how these warehouses became logistics centers during the transition of power from the Dutch to the Japanese, and were later nationalized by the Indonesian government in 1958 through a confrontation policy against the Dutch.

After nationalization, the management of these warehouses shifted to the State Plantation Company (PPN), which later became PTPN (Perusahaan Terbatas Perkebunan Nusantara). The name "Galaksi Park" itself emerged in a more modern era when the area began to be repurposed and developed as public space and commercial areas without altering the original warehouse structures.

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Key Figures and Events

Besides George Birnie, figures like van der Tuuk also played a significant role in developing supporting infrastructure around these warehouses. The existence of these warehouses also spurred the construction of the Kalisat-Panarukan railway line to transport tobacco produce directly to the port.

During the independence period, the area around the tobacco warehouses in Jember often became a gathering point for plantation fighters. The tobacco laborers here have a long history in the labor union movement, which became an important part of the socio-political dynamics in East Java in the 1960s.

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Preservation and Contemporary Transformation

Currently, Galaksi Park (Tobacco Warehouse) is designated as a locally protected cultural heritage site. The biggest challenge in preserving these warehouses is their material, largely composed of wood and bamboo, which are susceptible to decay and fire risks.

The Jember Regency government, along with private parties, has undertaken various restoration efforts. The transformation into "Galaksi Park" is an adaptive measure to keep these historic buildings relevant to contemporary needs. Repurposing them into creative spaces, culinary centers, and family recreation areas is done while maintaining the original facade of the warehouses. This aims to ensure that Jember's younger generations maintain a visual connection with the history of their ancestors as tobacco agrarian communities.

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Cultural and Educational Value

For the people of Jember, the tobacco warehouses are a symbol of resilience and prosperity. Culturally, the tobacco processing within these warehouses gave rise to various oral traditions, folk songs, and the Labako dance, which depicts the activities of tobacco laborers.

Galaksi Park now functions as a living museum. Visitors can not only enjoy a relaxed atmosphere but also learn how Jember was once a key player in the global economy through a single tobacco leaf. The unique architecture of the warehouses, which has been preserved, makes it an important study object for architects and historians interested in 19th-century vernacular construction techniques.

By preserving the existence of the Galaksi Park Tobacco Warehouses, Jember is not just safeguarding piles of wood and bamboo, but preserving the collective memory of a civilization built upon the fragrant aroma of the legendary Besuki tobacco.