Padang Kota Lama
Padang Kota Lama, or simply called The Padang, is the parade ground and playing field created by the British colonials in the civic district of George Town. It is bordered by Fort Cornwallis on one side, Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah, Jalan Padang Kota Lama and Light Street. The name "The Esplanade" is usually used collectively to denote the whole area that includes Padang Kota Lama and Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah, although historically The Esplanade refers only to Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah, between the bend in the road (called Fort Point) and where the road ends, near Cenotaph.
Padang Kota Lama is located in one of the oldest section of George Town and was among the earliest part of town to be cleared. When Francis Light landed at the cape in 1786, he found that this part of the island was uninhabited (there were small Malay and Acehnese riverine settlements along Sungai Pinang) and densely forested. The land was flat but overgrown with hardwood trees such as the Penaga Laut (ironwood). The northern shore was sandy while the eastern shore was covered with mangrove swamp. Light was said to have blasted silver coins into the forest to induce the workers to clear the land. These coins would have landed in the area where Padang Kota Lama is located today.
There were several structures on Padang Kota Lama that has since been destroyed or dismantled. The clubhouse buildings, the Penang Sports Club (Cricket Section) and the Penang Recreation Club were located on the Padang - an arrangement that is similar to what we can see in Singapore's Padang today. Also located on Padang Kota Lama is the Vermont Memorial, a cost iron pavilion for the public, as well as the Municipal Band Stand, a pavilion for public entertainment and ceremonies. Most of these were destroyed during the Second World War and never rebuilt.
Fort Cornwallis was built in 1786 as a simple fort of nibong palms. It was rebuilt in bricks in 1793, and again in 1810. What we see of it dates from the 1810 renovation, with little change thereafter. On the south side of Padang Kota Lama is Light Street, the oldest street of George Town, and built to be a stately thoroughfare for the new British settlement. Across from it was the Police Courts, now the State Assembly Building (Dewan Undangan Negeri), dating from the early 19th century. On the western side of Padang Kota Lama is Town Hall and City Hall, built in 1880 and 1900 respectively. On the seaward side of Padang Kota Lama is a coastal road called The Explanade, which dates to the late 19th century (before that, it was just sandy shore). The Esplanade is now part of Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah. On a protrusion opposite Jalan Padang Kota Lama is the Cenotaph, dating to after the Second World War.
Although the British is no more the administrators in Penang, their legacy lives on in the sights all around Padang Kota Lama.
Getting there
Take Rapid Penang Free Shuttle Bus to Light Street, getting down at Station No. 4 (Imigresen), No. 5 (Bank Negara), No. 17 (Dewan Sri Pinang) or No. 18 (fort Cornwallis). Padang Kota Lama is just across from Light Street.
Nearby Sights
Fort Cornwallis
State Assembly Building
Foo Tye Sin Mansion
Chinese Chamber of Commerce
House of Yeap Chor Ee
Town Hall
City Hall
Cenotaph
Visiting Penang
If you're planning a trip to Penang, please go through the information I have assembled in Penang Travel Tips. You'd find there information covering all aspect about Penang, including accommodation, transport, food, shopping, places of interest and more. Everything you need to know Penang is right there at your finger tips!
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Padang Kota Lama (30 November 2008)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Padang Kota Lama (23 April 2007)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Padang Kota Lama Location Map
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