about-us-history

The British Council is the United Kingdom's international cultural relations organisation founded in 1934. We have offices in 229 towns and cities in 110 countries and territories worldwide. We have been in Indonesia since 1948.

1948

“British Council Indonesia” was first established in the city of Bandung, West Java Indonesia. At the time it was called The Council.

1953

The Council moved its headquarters to Jakarta occupying a spacious but rundown house in on Jl Jambu in Menteng.

1955

The British took over the former Dutch consulate building on Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat in Jakarta.

1964

The Council withdrew its activities in Indonesia.

1968

The Council returned to Indonesia and rented new premises on Jl Imam Bonjol.

1970

The formal opening of the Imam Bonjol office and library.

1971-78

The Council operation rapidly diversified, in particular, in support of the Overseas Development Administration (ODA) programme in the country. In the mid-1970s, the Council began teaching English directly to Indonesians for the first time in its Imam Bonjol premises.

1979

The Council moved to S. Widjojo Centre on Jl Jendral Sudirman.

1980-89

By the early 1980s the Council was beginning to establish a global reputation for managing development and training contracts.

1998

The British Council celebrated its 50th anniversary at the Regent hotel in Jakarta in the attendance of the then Indonesian Minister of Education and Culture Prof. Juwono Sudarsono.

2005

Following the Australian Embassy bombing, The British Council moved from S. Widjojo Centre to Indonesia Stock Exchange Tower 2 building (also on Jl. Jend. Sudirman).

2008

The British Council celebrated its 60th anniversary at the Sultan hotel in Jakarta.