Esplanade & Light Street, G'town

This photo journal is the last in the series that covers the northeast waterfront area of Georgetown. It features the Esplanade, the popular waterfront promenade, & Light Street, the oldest road in town. Rightfully named after Francis Light, it was the most sought-after address in Penang by the late 19th century.

Please check Tim’s web site for a self-guided tour of the Esplanade area including Fort Cornwallis & Light Street. It has some wonderful photos. Some of my background information came from his site. ... (more)

The Penang Town Hall (1883)
on Padang Kota Lama, was completed in 1883, however, an annex was...

front view
The building eventually fell into disrepair & the local authorities...

The stunning old City Hall,
situated next to the Town Hall, was the seat of local government at one time....

This WWI Cenotaph (wc)
was erected by the British to remember those who died in World War I. In...

wc2

View across the channel
to the mainland shore.

The Millennium Memorial Plaza,
a controversial project that went ahead despite much public opposition....

The shady arbor
along the Light Street side of the the padang, the huge square of town green.

View of the Padang from the arbor.
Padang Kota Lama, or Field of the Old Fort, is the official name...

LIGHT STREET - Immigration building
This attractive building, which was built in 1890 to house the administrative...

The Penang State Assembly complex (psa),
next to the Immigration Building, was built in the Anglo-Indian...

psa2 - closer
Note the Tuscan columns & the charming arched windows & doors with...

The striking Supreme Court Building (sc)
built in Palladian-style with stately columns & a domed chamber, was...

sc2 - (greyscaled)
The recent renovations & expansion, which were completed in 2007, saw the...

sc3 - This large balconied complex
is stunning.

sc4 - (greyscaled)
The State Government provided a piece of land across the street for...

The Logan Memorial
was erected in memory of James Richardson Logan, a lawyer who championed the...

Hong Leong Bank (tarnished)
This branch of the Hong Leong Bank is housed in the former Foo Tye Sin...

Chinese Chamber of Commerce building,
on the corner of Penang Street & Light Street, was designed by local...

North Malay Chinese Textile
& General Merchants Association building (19th century), on the corner of...

Convent Light Street gate
Light Street ends near the gates of Convent Light Street (Convent of the Holy...

cls2 - a peek inside
Within the grounds is Government House, the oldest British administrative...

BEACH STREET - Standard Chartered Bank
building on Beach Street (Lb Pantai) taken from Downing Street....

State Islamic Council
on the corner of Beach Street & Downing. This richly ornamented...

article published 07/22/2008

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Let's hope the Unesco designation will put a stop to the abandonment of these wonderful buildings. Thank you Lorraine . Great photos .
— Margaret Sherwood, July 23, 2008

ahhhhhhhhh Fred....
but you should see how many of these buildings ARE abandoned & neglected, waiting to be mowed down by developers..... It's very sad & a big concern for local heritage conservationists & tourists like me who go there for that very reason.... Hopefully, the UNESCO designation will change that trend?
— Lorraine Brecht, July 23, 2008

Good heavens, Rainy,
it's clear that Georgetown is a very beautiful city filled with buildings that have obviously been cherished and re-used, rather than just replaced, as is so often the case elsewhere. I wish municipal councils here in Canada would take note!
— Fred Perry, July 23, 2008

Lots of beautiful buildings here! The Town Hall, State Islamic Council, Old City Hall etc wow! Thanks for sharing.
— Ben Hsu, July 23, 2008

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