King Edward VII Memorial Hospital Building
57 Macalister Road, George Town

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.

Visiting Penang

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