Pemurus Baru – a residential district of Kecamatan Banjarmasin Selatan in South Kalimantan province
Pemurus Baru is part of Kecamatan Banjarmasin Selatan (South Banjarmasin), which falls under the administrative territory of Banjarmasin city. The settlement is located in South Kalimantan (Kalimantan Selatan) province, which is Indonesia's smallest province by land area, yet the second most populous province on the island of Borneo. Pemurus Baru is situated directly in the central part of the district, on the southern coast of the Indonesian island of Borneo. The city of Banjarmasin was the provincial capital until February 15, 2022, when administrative functions were transferred to Banjarbaru, approximately 35 kilometers to the southeast. The settlement functions as an economic and social hub for the region, where the cultural heritage of the Banjarese people meets the modern development of the city.
General overview
Pemurus Baru, as a residential district located in Kecamatan Banjarmasin Selatan, is primarily a residential and mixed-use area. Within the structure of Banjarmasin city, its location is relatively central, meaning that urban infrastructure and city services are directly accessible. In South Kalimantan province, which according to 2020 census data had approximately 4.07 million residents, municipalities and residential districts generally function as important centers of Banjarese culture. Banjarmasin city is historically the cultural capital of the Banjarese people, where ethnic identity and local traditions remain vibrant today. However, Pemurus Baru is not particularly known as a tourist destination, and instead functions primarily as a residential area for local inhabitants.
The district to which Pemurus Baru belongs is a densely populated, urban area of Banjarmasin city. The general character of the region is that it has gradually transformed from its agricultural past into an urban and peri-urban area, where commerce, small-scale industrial activities, and the service sector play important roles. South Kalimantan was traditionally a commercial and shipping center, and held strategic importance due to its proximity to the Makassar Strait and water transportation routes. These historical factors continue to influence the city's infrastructure and economic structure today. In the Indonesian administrative system, a city is divided into kecamatan (districts), which are further subdivided into smaller administrative units, eventually reaching the kelurahan (village) level, and Pemurus Baru functions as such a smaller settlement unit or as part of an administrative village.
Real estate and investment
The real estate market in Pemurus Baru is tied to the broader market dynamics of Banjarmasin city. Banjarmasin and its immediate surroundings, where the settlement is located, form a regional economic center whose real estate and investment sector is dynamic by Central Indonesian standards. Due to the urban character of the settlement, it consists primarily of residential properties, spaces for retail purposes, and mixed-use objects. In South Kalimantan province, the real estate market generally shows stable demand, as the population grew from 3.625 million in 2010 to 4.07 million in 2020, with estimates reaching 4.32 million by mid-2025, supported by positive development in the tourism sector and expansion of industrial activities.
According to Indonesian real estate regulations, foreign nationals are not permitted to purchase land on a freehold (ownership) basis; instead, long-term leasehold arrangements are possible, typically ranging from 30 to 60 or 80 years. Pemurus Baru and the city's urban fabric offer relatively accessible conditions for those wishing to invest in productive small and medium-sized enterprises, as Banjarmasin city's economic structure is mixed and service-oriented. Real estate prices in Indonesian cities have generally proven stable over the past decade, though regional centers such as Banjarmasin fluctuate with changes in the energy sector and commercial conditions. The city's former status as a provincial capital resulted in substantial infrastructure investment, which supports the foundation of the real estate market.
Safety and security
Specific settlement-level data on public safety in Pemurus Baru is not available from public sources; however, it can generally be said that Banjarmasin city and South Kalimantan province are considered relatively stable from a security perspective among Indonesian cities. Indonesian cities are generally classified in terms of safety depending on which institutions are present (police, community security organizations) and what level of local community cohesion exists. Banjarmasin is historically a commercial and shipping city, meaning that strong state presence and community organization developed in maintaining public order.
In Indonesian cities generally, petty crime (such as pickpocketing) occurs in larger urban areas; however, neighborhood violence or organized crime that might potentially threaten the safety of average residents or investors is not typically problematic, due to the presence of the Indonesian police and the local community policing system (Polsek, Polda). As an urban district, Pemurus Baru falls directly under the administrative and police jurisdiction of Banjarmasin city, meaning that basic public order maintenance is monitored. Indonesian social cohesion and the traditional strong community bonds of the Banjarese community further result in stable functioning at the local level.
Tourist attractions
Pemurus Baru itself does not possess notable tourist attractions at the international or national level that can be verified from sources. The settlement is primarily a residential and mixed-use area that serves the everyday life of local inhabitants. However, the broader Banjarmasin city region possesses numerous cultural and historical sites that may be of interest to tourists. Banjarmasin city is historically a commercial and sultanate city, and in the 17th century fell under the authority of the Mataram Sultanate, subsequently becoming part of the Dutch East Indies during Dutch colonization.
The city and its surroundings remain the cultural and traditional center of the Banjarese people, where ethnic customs, gastronomy, and places of remembrance appear in the locality. Banjarmasin city is in direct proximity to Pemurus Baru, or relatively nearby based on the city's administrative boundaries, where river-connected life, local markets (such as floating markets, which are a distinctive institution of Indonesian Borneo) and Islamic cultural heritage (such as built religious structures) form part of the tourist appeal. Across South Kalimantan province, products such as cotton, rubber, copra, and tropical fruits are characteristic, and part of rural tourism is connected to these agricultural and extractive activities. Pemurus Baru, however, due to its urban character, is not directly connected to such products.
Summary
Pemurus Baru is a smaller, urban-character residential district in Kecamatan Banjarmasin Selatan of Banjarmasin city, in South Kalimantan province. The settlement is not particularly known as a tourist destination, but rather is a local residential and mixed-use area that forms part of the city's urban fabric. Its real estate market is tied to the broader dynamics of the city, which is a stably developing regional economic center. In terms of public safety, the area is considered stable and monitored by the Indonesian police and local community organizations. From a tourist perspective, the settlement itself offers no notable attractions; however, the broader Banjarmasin city and South Kalimantan province may be of interest to tourists due to their rich Banjarese cultural heritage and historical significance. Investors or permanent residents seeking access to a smaller city on Indonesian Borneo may find suitable conditions in Pemurus Baru or its immediate surroundings.
