Penang03 - Town Hall

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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 Penangs 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


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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 Penangs 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.


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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)


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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.


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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.



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Figure 2.10: Corinthian column with decorative cornice at the grand ballroom.


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 Penangs 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.


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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 buildings 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 faade 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 faade.



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Figure 2.12: Arches were use as main features for the verandah and balcony.


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.


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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.

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Penang03 - Town Hall