Duke Street

Duke Street, George Town is a side street immediately behind the City Hall. A mansion owned by a 19th. century local Chinese millionaire, Koh Seang Tat, once stood at the end of the street.

Duke Street, within the heart of George Town's UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a short street off Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakhbah along The Esplanade. The street runs south behind the City Hall and opposite the street, stands the Dewan Sri Pinang auditorium.

Duke Street sign

It was named after the Duke of Edinburgh who visited Penang Island in 1869. At the time, the street stretched between The Esplanade and Light Street, and along it was a mansion owned by Koh Seang Tat, a local Chinese millionaire.

Today, the street has been cut short just behind the compound of the Dewan Sri Pinang.

Etymology

Duke Street was named after the Duke of Edinburgh who visited in 1869. During his visit, the Duke stayed inside a mansion at Light Street owned by Koh Seang Tat, an influential local Chinese millionaire. The mansion, which was served by a minor road stretching from Light Street to The Esplanade, was said to be the most impressive residence in George Town at the time, complete with amenities befitting the Duke.

The Duke was impressed and renamed the mansion as Edinburgh House. The minor road next to the mansion which stretched between Light Street and The Esplanade was also renamed Duke Street.

History

The Edinburgh House once stood immediately west of the Town Hall, facing Light Street and was linked to The Esplanade via Duke Street. Today, the mansion was long gone; the site where the mansion once stood now forms part of the Dewan Sri Pinang auditorium.

The southern part of the street which led to Light Street was also blocked by the Dewan Sri Pinang. As a result, Duke Street is now a much shorter side street behind the City Hall.

Political Representation

 Penang State Government

N.26 Padang Kota State Assemblyman : Chow Kon Yeow (Democratic Action Party)

Malaysian Federal Parliament

P.049 Tanjong Member of Parliament : Ng Wei Aik (Democratic Action Party)

References

1. Langdon, M. A Guide to George Town's Historic Commercial and Civic Precints. Penang : George Town World Heritage Incorporated.
2. Khoo S.N., 2007. Streets of George Town, Penang. Areca Books.
3. http://www.penang-traveltips.com/duke-street.htm