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WORLD HERITAGE STATUS: 'GIFT' FOR QUEEN VICTORIA HELPED PENANG'S CAUSE
New Straits Times
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Frida y/National/2407981/Article/index_html
Nov 21 2008
Malaysia
WHEN the late Penang millionaire Cheah Chen Eok decided to commemorate
the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897, he built a clock tower
that was 60 feet tall.
Today, the magnificent edifice -- every foot in height representing
a year of the Queen's reign -- occupies pride of place adjacent to
the state legislative assembly building in the heart of George Town.
The clock tower is among many historical structures that won George
Town a listing as a World Heritage Site (jointly with Malacca) from
the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
(Unesco) in July.
The core area encompasses sites such as the Lebuh Acheh historical
enclave, Lebuh Acheh Malay Mosque, Jalan Mesjid Kapitan Keling Mosque,
Goddess of Mercy Temple, Sri Mariamman Temple, Khoo Kongsi, St George's
Church and Assumption Church.
It also includes St Xavier's Institution, Convent Light Street,
Little India, the museum and court building, the commercial area of
Beach Street, Fort Cornwallis, Esplanade, City Hall, the clan jetties
in Weld Quay and the port areas.
The initial Penang heritage enclave was classified into six
conservation zones -- the Seven Street precinct, cultural precinct
of Chulia Street and Love Lane, historical commercial district of
Little India, waterfront business and financial district, mosques,
clan house enclave and markets and shopping precincts.
The zone later shrank to what it is today.
The state government organised a three-day event from July 25 to 27
to celebrate George Town's status with visits to various heritage
areas as numerous cultural performances depicting the rich cultural
diversity of the island were staged.
Recently, Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) began placing blue plaques
within the heritage enclave to educate tourists on the history of
the many roads within the zone.
Founded in 1786 when Captain Francis Light, a trader for the British
East India Company, landed on Penang's shores, the town was named
after Britain's King George III.
Light, who had obtained the island from the Sultan of Kedah, built
Fort Cornwallis, which still stands as a tourist attraction overlooking
the seafront.
George Town is made up of a combination of a British-influenced
financial district (Beach Street, one of the longest streets in Penang)
and Chinese clan lifestyle.
The financial district features a mixture of Anglo-Indian and Straits
Chinese architecture, while the areas around the clan houses reveal a
self-sustained community complete with temples, mansions, residences,
lecture halls , an opera house, monuments to commemorate those who
fell in the war and places of worship.
The rich cultural diversity is evident in the presence of Straits
Chinese shophouses which had fuelled the trade here, and Muslim
traders from India, the Middle East and Indonesia who had used Penang
as a meeting place while waiting for the trade winds to sail to India
and Arabia.
The cosmopolitan nature of the city not only brought Islam but also the
Sarkies brothers, Armenian Jews who built the Eastern & Oriental Hotel.
The Burmese and Thais built temples in the Pulau Tikus area while
Indians built Hindu temples around the island.
The South Indians built rows of shophouses along Chulia Street
(previously known as Malabar Street), King Street and Queen Street,
an area which has now come to be known as Little India.
Also within the heritage enclave is Swettenham Pier which is now
the berthing place for many cruises and ferries heading for Sumatra
and Langkawi.
Weld Quay is home to six jetties -- Lim, Chew, Tan, Yeow, Lee, Koay
and Ong, and was the centre of Penang's Chinese seafarers.
There were originally seven jetties, but the Ong jetty was demolished
to make way for a jetty terminal.
Their history can be traced back to the 19th century when dragon boat
races were held in the north channel.
New Straits Times
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Frida y/National/2407981/Article/index_html
Nov 21 2008
Malaysia
WHEN the late Penang millionaire Cheah Chen Eok decided to commemorate
the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897, he built a clock tower
that was 60 feet tall.
Today, the magnificent edifice -- every foot in height representing
a year of the Queen's reign -- occupies pride of place adjacent to
the state legislative assembly building in the heart of George Town.
The clock tower is among many historical structures that won George
Town a listing as a World Heritage Site (jointly with Malacca) from
the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
(Unesco) in July.
The core area encompasses sites such as the Lebuh Acheh historical
enclave, Lebuh Acheh Malay Mosque, Jalan Mesjid Kapitan Keling Mosque,
Goddess of Mercy Temple, Sri Mariamman Temple, Khoo Kongsi, St George's
Church and Assumption Church.
It also includes St Xavier's Institution, Convent Light Street,
Little India, the museum and court building, the commercial area of
Beach Street, Fort Cornwallis, Esplanade, City Hall, the clan jetties
in Weld Quay and the port areas.
The initial Penang heritage enclave was classified into six
conservation zones -- the Seven Street precinct, cultural precinct
of Chulia Street and Love Lane, historical commercial district of
Little India, waterfront business and financial district, mosques,
clan house enclave and markets and shopping precincts.
The zone later shrank to what it is today.
The state government organised a three-day event from July 25 to 27
to celebrate George Town's status with visits to various heritage
areas as numerous cultural performances depicting the rich cultural
diversity of the island were staged.
Recently, Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) began placing blue plaques
within the heritage enclave to educate tourists on the history of
the many roads within the zone.
Founded in 1786 when Captain Francis Light, a trader for the British
East India Company, landed on Penang's shores, the town was named
after Britain's King George III.
Light, who had obtained the island from the Sultan of Kedah, built
Fort Cornwallis, which still stands as a tourist attraction overlooking
the seafront.
George Town is made up of a combination of a British-influenced
financial district (Beach Street, one of the longest streets in Penang)
and Chinese clan lifestyle.
The financial district features a mixture of Anglo-Indian and Straits
Chinese architecture, while the areas around the clan houses reveal a
self-sustained community complete with temples, mansions, residences,
lecture halls , an opera house, monuments to commemorate those who
fell in the war and places of worship.
The rich cultural diversity is evident in the presence of Straits
Chinese shophouses which had fuelled the trade here, and Muslim
traders from India, the Middle East and Indonesia who had used Penang
as a meeting place while waiting for the trade winds to sail to India
and Arabia.
The cosmopolitan nature of the city not only brought Islam but also the
Sarkies brothers, Armenian Jews who built the Eastern & Oriental Hotel.
The Burmese and Thais built temples in the Pulau Tikus area while
Indians built Hindu temples around the island.
The South Indians built rows of shophouses along Chulia Street
(previously known as Malabar Street), King Street and Queen Street,
an area which has now come to be known as Little India.
Also within the heritage enclave is Swettenham Pier which is now
the berthing place for many cruises and ferries heading for Sumatra
and Langkawi.
Weld Quay is home to six jetties -- Lim, Chew, Tan, Yeow, Lee, Koay
and Ong, and was the centre of Penang's Chinese seafarers.
There were originally seven jetties, but the Ong jetty was demolished
to make way for a jetty terminal.
Their history can be traced back to the 19th century when dragon boat
races were held in the north channel.