The Penang Heritage Trust is an organisation set up to promote the conservation of Penang's heritage and to foster greater awareness of the history and heritage of Penang. Penang Heritage Trust was founded in 1986, and was housed from 1998 until mid 2006 at a restored early 20th century shophouse of Straits architecture which formerly housed the Hainanese Mariners Guild, at 26A Stewart Lane.
On Sunday, 25 June, 2006, the Penang Heritage Trust moved to its present office at 26 Church Street. The opening of the new office was officiated by the Deputy Minister of Arts, Culture & Heritage, Dato' Wong Kam Hoong. The new premises is a shophouse of Straits Eclectic architecture built around 1860. It is an important example of a very early shophouse, where its height is lower than latter built shophouses. By the time this shophouse was built, the five-foot way - introduced by Stamford Raffles in Singapore as shelter against the elements in the tropical climate - has already made its appearance.
To readapt this shophouse into a modern office building, the Penang Heritage Trust embarked on a meticulous restoration project paying close attention to best practice guidelines laid down by Unesco. The PHT hopes that the effort will springboard public consciousness on conservation of other heritage shophouses in Penang.
To raise the necessary sum to purchase and furnish this 19th Century shophouse, the Penang Heritage Trust embarked on a fund-raising campaign that garnered the attention of donors including the Penang State Government, the Malaysian Ministry of Tourism, the Malaysian Ministry of Culture, Arts & Heritage and a corporate benefactor. Financial support was also received from American Express, through the World Monuments Watch®, a programme of the World Monuments Fund®.
Staff and Council Members of the Penang Heritage Trust on the occasion of the opening of the new premises, from left to right: Lim Sheau Fung, Tunku Dato' Ismail Jewa , Loh-Lim Lin Lee, Magdeline Ng, Lim Gaik Siang, Jack Ong, Timothy Tye, Dr Choong Sim Poey, Ahmad Chik and Clement Liang.
New Penang Heritage Trust office.
The front portion of the Penang Heritage Trust new office.
The staircase leading upstairs.
The air well in the middle of the building is kept as it was.
Plaque detailing the purchase and restoration of the new PHT office.
Timothy Tye, founder of AsiaExplorers and council member of Penang Heritage Trust, at the new premises.
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