Our yummy breakfast at East Indies Mansion put us in good stead to, again, set out on a walking expedition of Georgetown's colonial heritage.
Getting on to Lebuh Pantai or Beach Street, from Lebuh China, where our quaint little hotel, East Indies Mansion is located...
Beach Street was constructed in 1786-87 and coincided with the arrival of Francis Light, and in fact this street alongwith Light Street are among the oldest surviving roads in Malaysia. As the name suggests, Beach Street was originally a coastal road built along Georgetown's eastern waterfront, and was to become an important commercial and financial centre during British rule. And that is why we can see a number of banks on this road...
India House, a double-storey building, located on the corner of Beach Street and Church Street Ghaut, was built by S.N.A.S Sockalingam Chettiar in 1937 in the Indian art deco style, and was finished in Shanghai plaster. Today it appears a bit worn down, but when it was first built, it was the highest assessment payer along expensive Beach Street...
When it was first built, India House was a premium property in Georgetown and was the highest assessment payer along this road..
Church Street, or Lebuh Gereja, was named after the Church of the Assumption which was established by Father Arnold Garnault, who arrived with a group of Roman Catholics from Kuala Kedah to settle in Penang, on the invitation of Sir Francis Light himself. The church was only given the name Church of the Assumption when Father Garnault returned to Penang in 1787, from Pondicherry, India...
Located on Lebuh Pantai, the Whiteaways Arcade is a two-storey colonial building hosting modern art galleries, boutiques and trendy cafes. It also has a space for performances, fashion shows and music events...
Sri Weld Food Court is the biggest hawker centre within the banking area of Georgetown. Needless to say it's extremely popular...
This building was once called ABN Amro Building. It was completed in 1905 to house the Dutch bank's operations here...
The HSBC Bank Building designed in the late art deco style, in 1948. It was constructed to replace the earlier building, dating back to 1906, which was destroyed during the Second World War...
Originally, the Chartered Bank of India, China and Australia, and today's Standard Chartered Bank arrived on Penang's shores in 1875, making it the oldest bank branch in Malaysia. The present building was completed in 1930, and is a combination of elements drawn from the Palladian, classical and art deco architectural styles...
This double storey building was originally part of colonial administrative complex. The building was constructed in 1907 and was originally part of a U-shaped ensemble that faced Light Street. The building suffered heavy bombardment during the Second World War and destroyed much of the structure. What was left standing is this building, and today houses the Penang Islamic Council Building, or the Majlis Jabatan Agama Islam Pulau Pinang...
Constructed in 1897 by a local millionaire, Cheah Chen Eok, to commemorate Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee, the Victoria Memorial Clock Tower is 60 feet high, representing the Queen’s 60-year reign. It is constructed in Moorish style and is located at the junction of Lebuh Light (Light Street) and Lebuh Pantai (Beach Street). The clock tower is slightly tilted, as a result of bombing during the Second World War...
From Beach Street, we proceeded to Fort Cornwallis...
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