Esplanade and City Hall, Penang

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City Hall is the most magnificent colonial building in Georgetown. It was build in 1903 with Edwardian Baroque architectural design and painted white of the entire building. This building has brought back some political memory especially the controversy over city status.

1 Jan 1957, Queen Elizabeth II had granted Georgetown as the first city statue in the Federation of Malaya. The first mayor of Georgetown was Cllr D. S. Ramanathan (Labour). This building was used as the administrative office of the mayor.

Today, this building continues to be used as the administrative office of local council.

It is just nice to sit on the Padang (green field) and enjoy the magnificent view of the building!!

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Town Hall is situated in Padang Esplanade, next to City Hall Building. It is one of the old colonial mansions in Georgetown. It was built by Lt-Governor Sir Archibald Edward Harbord Anson in 1879, and completed one year after that. Town Hall was used a social community club for the European settlers as events hall, performing arts venue, art exhibition gallery, and etc.

I did not enter the building, so find out the next time I visit.

In 1999, Anna and the King was filmed here on the first floor of the building as " Royal Hall of Justice"

The building facade is maintaining well painted in yellow and bordering with white ornamental elements, quoins, pilasters, classic arches, columns, and windows.

To be continued...

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Padang Esplanade is located east of the City Center, next to Fort Cornwallis. During British colonial period, Francis Light developed this part of Penang into an important colonial administration district. Originally, this Padang had other buildings like we found in Singapore Padang, including the Clubhouse building, The Penang Cricket Club , and The Penang Recreation Club. Unfortunately they were destroyed during the World War II.

Today, Padang Esplanade retains its charm of having several main colonial buildings like the Town Hall and the City Hall. It is also surrounded by other beautiful old shop houses and colonial buildings on Lebuh Light (Light Lane). On Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah, it is a river-walk with a great views of Gurney Drive and the harbor.

I love this part of Penang! Beautiful!

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If you like walking, then you should enjoy the walking tour around northern part of Georgetown. You will start from Queen Victoria Clock Tower, Fort Cornwallis, Fort Cornwallis Lighthouse, Cenotaph, City Hall, Municipal Fountain, Logan Memorial, Supreme Court, Convent Light School, St george Church, Francis Light Memorial, Penang Museum,, Cathedral of Assumption, Argus Lane , St Xavier School, Protestant Cemetery and ending at E&O Hotel for a lunch.

Please refer to http://www.penang-traveltips.com/esplanade-self-guided-tour.htm

for the more details and a tour map. Should be interesting, take your own sweet time to walk and visit some of the oldest buildings in Penang.

I took my youngest sister and Brother in law for a tour around Penang when they were here last year and here more pictures around the esplanade and Padang Kota.

Located just along from the Town Hall, this is another wonderful colonial public building that was originally built in 1903 as the Municipal Office in Penang and formerly the seat of the City Council of George Town at a cost of $100,000 to relieve demand for office space at the Town Hall. Although it retains much of its original form, by comparison with old photographs it can be seen that the original arcades or loggias on the ground and first floors have been enclosed with windows.

Located near Fort Cornwallis along the Esplanade is this war memorial also known as a cenotaph which commemorates those who dies during World War 1. In reality, Penang saw very little action related to World War I, with the possible exception of the sinking of the Russian ship Zemschug by the German cruise ship Emden. A boay in the sea marks the spot of the attack.

This wonderful looking colonial building looks over the Padang and Fort Cornwallis. It was built in 1880 making it one of the oldest public buildings in George Town and features a concert hall upstairs. The Penang Library was once here, after the Prince of Wales Library was moved here and renamed. An annex was added in 1890 while the porch and top floor added in 1903.

This White Building is a contrast to the older yellow colour Town Hall. This is the current working city hall of Penang. I wonder how is it like to be working in such a classic building. But it is another beautiful colonial buildings in Penang.

One of the most outstanding colonial building in Penang is the City Hall, built in 1903 with the classical English Palladian style with a small dome, arches and resplendent pomp.

It is painted white and located a the prominent corner of the promenade near the sea and looking opposite Port Cornwallis at the Esplanade.

Currently it houses the licensing and urban service department of the Penang Municipal Council.

This is a major tourist stop. At the Esplanade is Fort Cornwallis with the famous cannons where Sir Francis Light, the founder of modern Penang, erected the first wooden stockade.

There is lighthouse, two well preserved City Halls, a clocktower commemorating Queen Victoria. The large Esplanade is the venue of major festivals where you can watch the fireworks too at night.

It is a popular place to fish day or night. At night, there is a foodcourt, one for Halal and the others non-Halal (non Muslim food served).

You can the harbor, Butterworth on the mainland and Gunung Jerai across in Kedah.