History

Port Dickson began its history as a small Malay village named after coal. Hence, its Malay name was 'Arang' as this places was once a giant coal churning factory. Later, it became famous for its tin ore. During the colonial period, a British official named Sir Frederic Dickson arrived, looking for a suitable port to be used in 1880, for the transportation of tin ore from Sungai Ujong to Klang. Arang was renamed as Port Dickson after the official.

After the tin ore trade faded, Port Dickson became a holiday destination for British officials and their families. As the years passed, it became popular with locals till this very day. Each year, Port Dickson sees a large number of visitors and tourists coming from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, becoming a bustling seaside destination, now affectionately called 'PD' for short. This is especially so in August, when Port Dickson celebrates a fest called 'Pesta Port Dickson', with cultural events and water-soaked parties. The glut of visitors inevitably caused Port Dickon's beautiful beaches to be soiled and spoilt, sparking a massive clean-up in recent years. However, its proximity to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur as a seaside destination will continue its popularity well into the future.