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I ♥ SarawakLand of the Hornbills
The Grand Old Lady — Malaysia's first oil well — on Canada Hill, Miri
Culture & Heritage

Canada Hill & the Grand Old Lady

Miri

Malaysia's first oil well atop Miri's sunset ridge — where the nation's petroleum story began in 1910.

Daybreak over Miri from Canada Hill
Daybreak over Miri from Canada Hill · Sharanya Giridharan (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Historic photograph of Miri's first oil rig, the Grand Old Lady
Historic photograph of Miri's first oil rig, the Grand Old Lady · Public domain (historic) (Public domain)

On the low ridge of Canada Hill above Miri stands the 'Grand Old Lady' — Oil Well No. 1, drilled in 1910, the first oil well in Malaysia and the spark that turned a fishing village into Sarawak's oil city. The old derrick still stands where it struck oil, now a beloved monument.

Beside it, the Petroleum Museum tells the story of the industry that built modern Miri, while the ridge itself serves the city as its favourite exercise track and sunset gallery, with views across the rooftops to the South China Sea.

Highlights

  • The Grand Old Lady — Malaysia's first oil well (1910)
  • The Petroleum Museum alongside the original derrick
  • Miri's best sunset viewpoint over city and sea
  • A favourite local jogging and picnic ridge

Good to know

  • The monument and viewpoint are free and always open; check current hours for the museum
  • Come 30–45 minutes before sunset for the best light
  • It gets breezy on the ridge — pleasant respite from the coastal heat

Getting there

Canada Hill rises directly behind central Miri — a five-to-ten-minute drive or a steep short walk from downtown.

Read our stories about Canada Hill & the Grand Old Lady← All places

Cover photo: Pierre cb (CC BY 3.0); gallery photos as captioned — all via Wikimedia Commons.