The King Edward VII Memorial Hospital Building is a heritage building along Jalan Macalister. It used to function as a maternity hospital. In 2008, when this is written, the building was restored and is awaiting reoccupancy.
The idea to found a maternity hospital can be traced back to around 1912 when two British colonial officers, William Evans and William Peel, proposed at a maternity hospital be set up in memory of King Edward VII. Sir William Peel was the President of the Municipal Commissioners in Penang in 1911 and Acting Resident Councillor of Penang in 1917. The King Edward VII Memorial Fund, which was set up for this purpose, garnered support from various members of the Penang business circles. Among the donors include the Huttenbach brothers, Tye Kee Yoon, the 4th Chinese Consul to Penang; the Sarkies Brothers, of E & O Hotel fame; various clan associations, and other pillars of society of early 20th century Penang. A plaque at the hospital building shows that the fund managed to raise $65435.
The resulting building constructed for the maternity hospital was occupied for that purpose from 1915 to 1955. In 1955, the maternity hospital was moved to Jalan Residensi, where it is still located. The King Edward VII Memorial Hospital building was then handed over for the use of charitable organizations.
Between 1955 and the 1980's, the building was occupied by various organizations including the St John Ambulance, the Red Crescent Society, and as a vocational training centre for adults.
Getting there
Rapid Penang Bus Nos. 10, 101 and U104 pass through Jalan Macalister in front of this building.
Stretching your budget in Penang
If you are a prudent traveller, you can spend less than $20 per day in Penang, including your accommodation! Here's some useful tips for budget travellers to Penang, to help you manage your budget and have a great time.
Penang Tour Guides
If you're on a shoestring budget, you can explore Penang using the travel articles in Penang Travel Tips. You may print them out for your own personal non-commercial use. However, nothing compares to having a professional tour guide to show you around. If you need a tour guide, contact me and I'll arrange one for you, according to your schedule and interest. If I happen to be free, I would gladly show you around too. Just write to me at:
Finding Budget Accommodation in Penang
If you're coming to Penang on a budget, you'd be pleased to know that there's quite a number of places in George Town as well as in Batu Ferringhi that offers good clean accommodation without costing you an arm and a let. If I am allowed to be biased, I would recommend Hotel Mingood, which happens to belong to a friend of mine. If it is occupied, there are plenty of other places that cost less than US$12.00 per night. Here are some suggestions:
Hutton Lodge, from US$8.25
Baba Guesthouse, from US$7.57
E.T. Budget Guesthouse, from US$6.05
YMCA Penang, from US$6.53
Ali's Ferringhi Guest House, from US$9.63
Despite the best intentions to provide you information that is as accurate as possible, do be aware that prices may have changed and exchange rates fluctuated since I wrote this. So please personally and carefully screen through the available accommodation before making your booking, to avoid any disappointments.
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King Edward VII Memorial Hospital Building (3 August 2008)
© Timothy Tye
King Edward VII Memorial Hospital Building (3 August 2008)
© Timothy Tye
King Edward VII Memorial Hospital Building (3 August 2008)
© Timothy Tye
King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (3 August 2008)
© Timothy Tye
King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (3 August 2008)
© Timothy Tye
Tim and Chooi Yoke at the unrestored wing of the hospital (3 August 2008)
© Timothy Tye
King Edward VII Memorial Hospital Building Temple Tanjung Bungah
Location Map
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