Northam Road, George Town

Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah

Northam Road is the main thoroughfare on the northern coast of George Town. It starts in front of St Xavier's Institution, and ends at the junction with Kelawei Road and Pangkor Road.

For much of its history, and until a proper road existed, the area was known as North Beach. When the road was laid, it was given the name Northam Road, after Northam in Devon, England - I suppose after the birthplace of one of the early Governors of the Straits Settlements. It was given the present name Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah in conjunction with the visit of Sultan Ahmad Shah, who visited Penang as the 7th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia in 1982.

Northam Road was the choice address of the Europeans during the 19th century. That was why the Hokkiens in Penang called it Ang Mor Lor, especially the section west of Transfer Road. However, by the early part of the 20th century, Europeans were moving out in search of "greener pastures", literally speaking, as they vacate the urban streets of Northam Road and Light Street, heading for the Ayer Rajah neighbourhood, to places such as Western Road and Ayer Rajah Road, now Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman. The properties along Light Street and Northam Road were snapped up with rich local Chinese, who proceeded to put forth ostentatious mansions to flaunt their new-found prosperity. These were the most sought-after real-estate in town, and they are all beach front properties (and if I may add, the beach was pristine then).

Today Northam Road is punctuated by the mansions of these early Penang millionaires. However, the days of their grandeur have long past, and many of these mansions are now converted to other uses. Some of the properties along Northam Road have also given way to skyscrapers - this is one of the places in Penang that one is allowed to build high, as it is outside the heritage zones.