Home > Visitor & Community : Living in Miri > History of Miri

History of Miri

In the early 20th century, before the discovery of oil, Miri was a quiet place with a river and a few huts in the vicinity. In 1910, following the exploratory drilling of oil on a hilltop for over four months, oil was struck.

Miri and Malaysias first oil well is located at Canada Hill. Now affectionately dubbed the “Grand Old Lady”, this oil well remained in production until 1972.

By 1917, Miri oil boom was in full swing where foreign labour flocked in from around the world to support the local manpower. The town gradually developed and by 1921, it already had 40 shophouses, one English school and another Chinese school. Miri was designated the administrative center for the entire Baram region by 1929.

Soon the oil exploration expanded in the 60’s to encompass offshore operations where production reached 95,000 barrels a day. Petronas, Malaysia’s oil company made Lutong area in Miri as the hub for their oil production activities.

Numerous changes and developments took place during the economic boom from 1980 until 1990 with many new suburbs developed where housing construction, multi-storey commercial complexes, international class hotels, public amenities increased significantly with continuous growth of the tourism industry.

Miri officially acquired “city” status in 2005 and became the second city in Sarawak after Kuching.