2.2.

2 PENANG TOWN HALL

2.2.2.1 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Penang Town Hall located at the left sides of City Hall along Jalan Padang Kota Lama. It
built a few decades earlier than Penang City Hall. The construction of this historical building was
started at 1879 and the foundation stone of Town Hall was laid at the same year. This building
completed at year 1883.It was a British administrative building and take pride in front to an open
filed to the Esplanade Padang.

The Town Hall has a balcony that overlooks to the Esplanade Padang. It has the same
features with the Penang City Hall. In early day, the elites will gather at the balconies of those
Municipal Council buildings such as Penang City Hall and Penang Town Hall to view the game
and processions held at the Esplanade. There are some extensions and renovations constitute
the Penang Town Hall now a day. In 1890, an annex was added to the building. While the porch
and top floor was being added in 1903. In 1930, the left wing of cement plaster was added to
the building when cement plasters was introduce.

The building originally housed the Municipal Council offices until they moved to Penang
City Hall when it was completed in 1903. The functions of the building were more social then
administrative. The Town Hall then became a ballroom where social events were held for the
city elite. The building consist an assembly hall, a stage, a grand ballroom with adjoining supper
rooms and library. Penang library was born at this building. Prince of Wales Library was moved
into this building and was renamed as Penang Library. Besides being main library, it also as the
venue for theatrical performances and church services by Wesley Church was held here in
1891.

There was a delicate 19th century fountain located next to the Penang Town Hall (Refer
figure 2.5). The fountain was one of the Penang’s Victorian memorials and was donated by Koh
Seang Tat. He lived in the grand mansion behind the Penang Town hall which stood at the side
of present Dewan Sri Pinang. In 1869, he entertained the Duke of Edinburgh and subsequently
his residence was named as Edinburgh House. The road leading to his residence was named
as Duke Road.

The building was eventually fall into disrepair and the local authorities considered
demolishing it. The National Museum was stopped and save it. It was declares as a historic
monument on 29th July 1993.

Figure 2.5: Fountain as one of the Penang’s Victorian memorials and was donated by Koh
Seang Tat.
Source: Field study (2008)

2.2.2.2 ARCHITECTURAL STYLES AND CONCEPTS

The architectural style of this building was similar to the Penang City Hall.
The building was one of the most outstanding colonial buildings in Penang with the classical
British Palladian style with a small dome, arches magnificent Corinthian column, and plenty of
typical tall windows.
 The concept of design for Penang Town Hall was similarity to the Penang City Hall. The
similarity of design is use balcony as the main features overlooking to the Esplanade Padang in
Georgetown (Refer figure 2.7). The grand ballroom of the Penang Town Hall was constitutes of
timber and decorative elements (Refer figure 2.8, 2.9 and 2.10). The acoustics features in the
grand ballroom as very well. Hence, it as the venue for theatrical performances and social
events were held at the ballroom for the city elites.

Figure 2.6: The front of Penang Town Hall and take pride in front to an open filed to the
Esplanade Padang
Source: www.asiaexplorers.com (2008)
Figure 2.7: Town Hall has a balcony that overlooks to the Esplanade Padang and it has the
same features with the Penang City Hall.
Source: Field study, 2008.
 Figure 2.8: The grand ballroom of the Penang Town Hall.
Source: http://www.asiaexplorers.com (2008)

Figure 2.9: The picture in left show the chandeliers use in the grand ballroom. While the picture
in right show the detail of decorative on the ceiling of grand ballroom.
Source: http://www.asiaexplorers.com (2008)
 Figure 2.10: Corinthian column with decorative cornice at the grand ballroom.
Source: http://www.asiaexplorers.com (2008)

2.2.2.3 BUILDING SIGNIFICANT AND ELEMENT OF IMPORTANT

The Penang Town Hall is a two storey height building which located at the Esplanade. It
was one of the most outstanding colonial buildings and still can be seen today which present the
colonial history. It can create the Penang’s awareness of its pass legacy. It has a significant
historical values, architectural values, social cultural and political values.

a) Significant Historical Values

Penang Town Hall was a British administrative building and take pride in front to an open
filed to the Esplanade Padang. The building originally housed the Municipal Council offices until
they moved to Penang City Hall when it was completed in 1903.

Penang library was born at this building. Prince of Wales Library was moved into this
building and was renamed as Penang Library. Besides being main library, it also as the venue
for theatrical performances and church services by Wesley Church was held here in 1891.
b) Significant Architectural Values
The architectural style of this building was similar to the Penang City Hall which uses
British Palladian architectural styles. The building was one of the most outstanding colonial
buildings in Penang with a small dome, arches magnificent Corinthian column, and plenty of
typical tall windows. Besides that, the design of this building incorporates many arches and
pillars which reflect the influence of the Palladian architecture.

This beautiful old building’s architectures was show by the classical structure supported
by white colonnades and yellow colors as the main color for the facade. In previously, it was
painted in white color. Now, it is painted in yellow color as the main color at the façade of the
building and white color for the Corinthian column, window and cornice at wall and ceiling (Refer
to figure 2.11). The verandah and balcony of the building are arcaded (Refer figure 2.12).

Figure 2.11: Decorative cornice at the wall and colonnades. The pillars, colonnades and
decorative cornice were painted in white while yellow color was painted for the façade.
Source: Field study (2008)
 Figure 2.12: Arches were use as main features for the verandah and balcony.
Source: Field study (2008)

c) Significant Political Values

The building originally housed the Municipal Council offices until they moved to Penang
City Hall when it was completed in 1903.

d) Significant Social and Cultural Values

The Penang Town Hall was a social spot for the area's European society. It is a building
with an assembly hall, a stage, and ballroom with adjoining supper rooms. The functions of the
building were more social then administrative. It has a nicknamed called Ang Mo Kong Kuan by
the Straits Chinese, which literally means European Club. Balcony of the building was the main
features overlooking to the Esplanade Padang in George Town. In early day, the elites will
gather at the balconies to view the game and processions held at the Esplanade.
 The Town Hall then became a ballroom where social events were held for the city elite. It
also a venue for theatrical performances and church services by Wesley Church was held here
in 1891. In 1903, Bangsawan plays were performed at here. While start from 1890 up to 1954, a
group of Filipino musicians plays were perform at here. It was featured the movie Anna and the
King at 1999 regarding on the courtroom segment.