King Edward's Place

King Edward's Place lies within the centre of George Town, linking the Light Street Roundabout with Weld Quay.

King Edward's Place is a short two-way street within George Town's UNESCO World Heritage Site. It runs from the Light Street Roundabout to the west until the junction with Weld Quay to the east.

Created in the early 20th. century, the street was named after King Edward VII, the monarch of the British Empire between 1901 and 1910. The area where the street now lies was earlier reclaimed from the sea; prior to the land reclamation, Victoria Pier once stood at this spot. 

Up until World War 2, the street formed part of the administrative heart of Penang, with the U-shaped Government Offices lining the southern side of the street. Warehouses were also built between the street and the northeastern corner of Penang Island in the early 20th. century.

After the Government Offices was largely destroyed during the Second World War, more modern office blocks were constructed along the street, including the Penang Port Building.

An old King Edward's Place sign, which is in Malay. Note that this was the standard design of all road signs in Penang prior to 2008.

Etymology

King Edward VII (1841 - 1910) of the British Empire

King Edward VII (1841 - 1910) of the British Empire

King Edward's Place was named after King Edward VII (1841 - 1910) of the United Kingdom. He took over the throne of the British Empire after the passing away of Queen Victoria in 1901 and ruled until his death in 1910.

History

The Light Street Roundabout serves as the western end of King Edward's Place, linking the street with Light Street, Beach Street and Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah. This picture was taken in the 1930s.

A government-run jetty named Victoria Pier once stood at the area where King Edward's Place now lies. The area was then reclaimed from the sea in the late 19th. century.

Aerial view of King Edward's Place in 1937. Both the Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower and the U-shaped Government Offices can be seen.

The street came into being within the first decade of the 20th. century and named after the then monarch of the British Empire, King Edward VII. At that time, the U-shaped Government Offices was being constructed along the southern side of King Edward's Place, eventually occupying the piece of land bounded by King Edward's Place to the north, Beach Street to the west, Downing Street to the south and Weld Quay to the east.

King Edward's Place stretched right behind the Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower and along the left of the Government Offices in this 1942 picture taken by the Imperial Japanese Army. Most of the Government Offices was destroyed by the end of World War 2.

As the street lies near the northeastern tip of Penang Island, warehouses were also erected along the northern side of the street, right next to Swettenham Pier.

The Government Offices was eventually destroyed during the Second World War. During the post-war era, more modern office blocks were built; these now house a variety of government agencies including the Penang Port, Penang Tourist Centre and Malaysia's Inland Revenue Board.

Light Street Roundabout today, with the Pinang Fountain. The Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower stands right behind this roundabout.

Notable Landmarks

The Penang Port Building also houses the Penang Tourist Centre, conveniently located for tourists coming in via cruise ships docked at the adjacent Swettenham Pier.

From west to east :

• Light Street Roundabout
  • Pinang Fountain
• Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower
• Penang Port Building
• Swettenham Pier

  

  Swettenham Pier, at the northeastern tip of George Town, is one of the four terminals of the Port of Penang, as well as the berthing place for cruise ships.

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. Cheah J. S., 2013. Penang 500 Early Postcards. Editions Didier Millet.
2. http://www.penang-traveltips.com/king-edward-place.htm
3. http://wongchunwai.com/category/penang-history-my-story/page/5/
4. http://penangport.com.my/Services/Swettenham-Pier-Cruise-Terminal