History of George Town, Penang

Today, the city, well known for its cultural diversity, colonial-era architecture and street food, is a booming tourist destination and still serves as the financial centre of northern Malaysia.

In the 1770s, the British East India Company, seeking to expand its presence into Southeast Asia, instructed Francis Light to form trade relations in the Malay Peninsula.

[1][2][6] Light subsequently wrote to his superiors regarding the offer, arguing that Penang Island could serve as a "convenient magazine for trade", and its strategic location would allow the British to check Dutch and French territorial gains in Southeast Asia.

[1][2][7] When Light reneged on his promise of British military assistance against Siam, in 1791 the Kedah sultan assembled an army and a fleet of pirates in what is now Seberang Perai to recapture the Prince of Wales Island.

[12] Attracted by the promise of free trade without having to pay any form of tax or duties, and assured of their safety at the British-governed harbour, merchants flocked into George Town; consequently, the number of incoming vessels rose exponentially from 85 in 1786 to 3,569 in 1802.

[18] In the early 19th century, Penang, which by then comprised both the Prince of Wales Island and a strip of the Malay Peninsula named Province Wellesley (now Seberang Perai), emerged as a centre of spice production and trade within Southeast Asia.

[33][34] Although its importance became secondary to Singapore's, George Town remained a vital British entrepôt within Southeast Asia, funneling the exports meant for global shipping lines which had bypassed other regional harbours.

[34] These factors were crucial, as it established the Malacca Strait as part of the main sea route between Europe and Asia, with George Town as the first port-of-call east of the Indian subcontinent and a vital link in the international telegraph lines.

Aside from the sizeable Chinese, Malay, Indian, Peranakan, Eurasian and Siamese communities, there were significant minorities of Burmese, British, Javanese, Japanese, Sinhalese, Jewish, German and Armenian origin.

[11] While the Europeans predominated in the various professional fields, and ran mercantile and shipping firms, the Peranakans and the Eurasians tended to enter the nascent civil service as lawyers, engineers, architects and clerks.

The rapid population growth that resulted from the booming economy led to a number of social problems, chiefly the inadequate sanitation and public health facilities, as well as rampant crime.

[40][41] The resulting civil unrest lasted for 10 days, before the turf war was eventually put down by the Straits Settlements authorities under newly appointed Lieutenant-Governor Edward Anson, who were assisted by European residents and reinforcements from Singapore.

[34][39][46] By the end of the 19th century, George Town also evolved into a leading financial centre of British Malaya, as mercantile firms and international banks, including Standard Chartered and HSBC, established regional branches within the city.

With improved access to education and rising living standards, George Town soon enjoyed substantial press freedom and there was a greater degree of participation in municipal affairs by its Asian residents.

Not only did the British Army abandon the Batu Maung Fort without firing a single shot, they also surreptitiously evacuated the city's European residents, leaving ethnic Asians to the mercy of the impending Japanese occupation.

[66][67] Between 1942 and 1944, George Town became the port of call and a replenishment hub for the submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy, the Kriegsmarine (of Nazi Germany) and the Regia Marina (of the Kingdom of Italy).

Under Operation Jurist, a British Royal Navy fleet, led by HMS Nelson, accepted the surrender of the Japanese garrison in Penang on 2 September 1945.

A British Royal Marines contingent landed at Swettenham Pier on the following day and subsequently dispersed to capture key locations, including the Eastern & Oriental Hotel, Penang Hill and the military facilities in Gelugor.

[53] As with the rest of Penang, George Town was placed under a military administration until 1946, as the British sought to restore order in the face of an emerging communist insurgency.

As the gradual withdrawal of the Western colonial powers in Southeast Asia continued taking shape, the independence of Malaya as a united political entity seemed an inevitable conclusion.

The British government subsequently allayed the fears raised by the secessionists by guaranteeing George Town's free port status and by reintroducing municipal elections for the city in 1951.

"[80]The ceremony was followed by a week-long celebration marking the official elevation of George Town into a city - as well as the centenary of the local government and the New Year's Day - which lasted from 1 to 6 January, and included street festivities and a Chingay procession.

[78][81][83] While the Royal Commission was underway, the George Town City Council was concurrently suspended and its functions were transferred temporarily to the then chief minister of Penang, Wong Pow Nee.

[87] These events marked the death of the George Town's maritime trade and heralded the start of the city's slow, decades-long decline, which was reversed only in recent years.

[24] Kuala Lumpur soon outstripped George Town as Malaysia's largest city and financial centre, while Port Klang rapidly became the country's busiest seaport.

In the 1990s, as George Town's banks began reassessing their spatial requirements to accommodate larger business volumes, a number of commercial developments were launched along the city's Northam Road.

In response, NGOs based within the city, such as the Penang Heritage Trust, began to mobilise public support and form strategic partnerships for the conservation of these historic buildings.

[107][7] In the case of the new commercial properties along Northam Road, cheap unskilled labour from the poorer countries in the region, such as Bangladeshis and Nepalis, filled the void left by the quality subcontractors who had moved to Kuala Lumpur.

[108] Since then, a network of sirens has been installed throughout George Town as part of a national tsunami warning system designed to alert the public of such calamities in the future.

[123] Moreover, George Town, as the economic and financial centre of northern Malaysia, is now home to a vibrant services sector, augmented by its booming tourism, retail and startup industries, while a growing number of expatriates and returning Penangite émigrés have repurposed the city's heritage properties for business enterprises.

An 1811 painting of George Town
Fort Cornwallis , in the heart of George Town , was constructed at the spot where Francis Light first set foot on Penang Island .
A bronze statue of Francis Light still stands within Fort Cornwallis to this day.
George Town was named after King George III , who ruled the British Empire between 1760 and 1801.
Francis Light 's grave in the Old Protestant Cemetery in George Town .
A 1799 map of George Town
An 1810 engraving depicting the eastern side of George Town
1814 print of a view overlooking George Town
An 1818 painting depicting George Town and Province Wellesley (in the horizon), as seen from a hilltop.
St. George's Church , at Farquhar Street , was founded in 1816, making it the oldest Anglican church in Southeast Asia .
The High Court of Penang , the birthplace of Malaysia's modern-day judiciary, was established in 1808. It was subsequently moved to its current grounds at Light Street , where it remains to this day. [ 9 ]
Original flag of the Straits Settlements , in use between 1874 and 1925
Flag of the Straits Settlements between 1925 and 1941
Panoramic image of George Town in the late 19th century, with the city's Esplanade in the foreground.
The Port of Penang at Weld Quay in 1910. Weld Quay was reclaimed from the sea in the 1880s.
Beach Street , traditionally the mercantile centre of the city, remains an integral part of George Town's Central Business District .
The Government Offices at Weld Quay was constructed to house the government offices for the colony of Penang . However, much of the building was destroyed during World War II . Only this portion remains standing to this day. [ 9 ] [ 30 ]
The city's Pinang Peranakan Mansion is an exquisite example of Peranakan architecture and interior design.
The Jewish Cemetery in George Town . Today, the Jewish community no longer exists, with the passing of the last Jew in 2011. [ 31 ]
The Eastern & Oriental Hotel was founded in the 1880s by the Armenian Sarkies Brothers , who went on to establish similar hotels throughout Southeast Asia , such as Singapore 's Raffles Hotel .
A trolleybus in George Town in 1926
A 1914 map from the New York Times depicting the Battle of Penang .
The Cenotaph in George Town was built in honour of fallen Allied servicemen of World War I .
An Imperial Japanese Navy submarine at the Port of Penang in 1942.
The Japanese-issued 'banana' dollar , so labelled due to the banana tree motif on notes such as this.
Japanese officials signing the surrender of Penang documents on board HMS Nelson on 2 September 1945.
British Royal Marines liberating George Town on 3 September 1945.
Japanese prisoners of war being marched through the streets of George Town by their British captors on 3 September 1945.
Flag of the Crown Colony of Penang , which was in use between 1946 and 1949.
The City Hall , built in 1903, became the headquarters of the George Town City Council in 1957. Today, it still serves as the seat of the Penang Island City Council .
George Town 's Esplanade , with the City Hall visible to the right. The proclamation of George Town's city status was made here on 1 January 1957.
George Town in 1971.
Constructed in 1974, the Komtar Tower within the city centre is Penang's tallest skyscraper .
Completed in 1985, the Penang Bridge was then the longest bridge in Southeast Asia .
Tanjung Tokong , a suburb of George Town , was among the worst hit areas during the Indian Ocean tsunami on 26 December 2004.
A large portion of the city centre has been gazetted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008.
A LinkBike station in George Town . This public-bicycle sharing service is an initiative of the Penang state government to alleviate traffic congestion in the city.
A row of renovated Peranakan shophouses in George Town . In recent years, colonial-era heritage properties have become popular amongst expatriates seeking to establish businesses. [ 124 ] [ 125 ]