Discovering Penang: Quick Guide to British Colonial George Town, Malaysia

George Town is the capital city of Penang Island, just off the west coast of the Malay Peninsula. Although a few settlements existed in the island of Penang before, it was not until the founding of colonial George Town by British explorer Francis Light in the late 18th century. Due to its establishment as a free port and later with the law enforcement and infrastructure of the British Empire, Penang quickly rose as an important enclave for trade routes in Southeast Asia. The active harbor and the local spice production and tin trade made the city of George Town rise, eventually becoming the capital of the British Straits Settlements. This caused an important influx of both British and Asian merchants and intellectuals. Many buildings remain from Penang’s British colonial times and it is important to visit colonial George Town when visiting Penang.

Fort Cornwallis

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Visiting British colonial George Town

1. Fort Cornwallis

Fort Cornwallis was built by Sir Francis Light in the late 18th century, and is the most important representation of British colonial presence in Penang. The fort consists of the walls, lined with cannons, the gun powder magazine, prison cells and barracks and a chapel. In the fort you can find Seri Rambai, a cannon built back in 1606 that changed hands until it made its way to the fort. While Fort Cornwallis didn’t see any military action, it had an administrative role in colonial Penang.

Schedule: Mon-Sun 9-18.30, Price: 20 RM

2. Town Hall and City Hall

The Town Hall and City Hall are two of the most imposing colonial buildings in Penang. They are a perfect example of later colonial style than that of Fort Cornwallis. They are located side by side at the Penang Esplanade, so you can pair the visit with a nice walk along the coast. The Town Hall was completed in 1883 and the City Hall in 1903, which seems a bit odd being so close together in time. The reason was that the Town Hall was used for social events for the European elite and soon deemed insufficient for the governing of the state, hence the City Hall was built. You can’t enter either of the buildings, as they serve as government buildings, but it is worth to pass by to admire the ornate architecture.

3. Other important colonial buildings

Other notable colonial buildings include St. George’s Anglican Church, the High Court, the Malaysian Railway Building, Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower, Penang State Museum, George Town Dispensary, George Town World Heritage Incorporated, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, the Central Fire Station and the Eastern and Oriental Hotel.

4. Colonial buildings outside of George Town

While not technically in George Town, Penang Hill was a hill station during British colonial times and, as such, it is a perfect place to discover colonial architecture! It helps that it is a must stop in any Penang itinerary for its incredible views and thriving nature, so keep an eye on those British colonial bungalows (such as Bel Retiro)! To top it up, have some High Tea at David Brown’s Restaurant. You can also find a Victorian British red postbox up the hill! The colonial origins of Penang Hill contrast a lot with the modern engineering and the nature reserve it has become. For a full guide on Penang Hill, check out this post:

→ Ultimate guide to Penang Hill in Penang, Malaysia

The Victorian red post box in Penang Hill. Photo by Adam Jones with CC BY-SA 2.0

Map of colonial buildings in George Town

How to Get to Penang

Despite being an island, Penang is very well connected to the rest of Malaysia and even internationally! You can access Penang by car, taxi or bus through the . Another option is to arrive by ferry, either from the nearby Butterworth, which only takes around 10 minutes, or from the island of Langkawi. The latter is a long and arduous trip, so it only happens during the dry season.

Lastly, Penang is home to its own international airport, so there are frequent flights from Malaysian cities like Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi or Ipoh, as well as some international destinations such as Bangkok and Singapore.

Closing statement

While we have hopefully learned that colonialism is not great, it is still an important cultural heritage of many regions in the world, including Penang. That is why it is important to understand the regions past by visiting some of its most important colonial buildings. It is very easy to do so as you visit the city, since many of them are in or around the most touristic areas!

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If you’re visiting Penang, I suggest you read my dedicated post on things to do in Penang, as well as the more specific posts that you can get to from it:

→ What to do in Penang, Malaysia: the island of cultural tapestry

And if you’re traveling around Malaysia, I think these posts can be useful!

Kuala Lumpur: discovering the Malaysian capital

Melaka, Malaysia: a Journey through Cultural Heritage

Cameron Highlands, Malaysia: where wild and tamed nature meet

Langkawi, Malaysia’s adventure island

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