Lebuh Carnarvon 沓田仔

Lebuh Carnarvon, George Town, Penang (1 January 2014)


Lebuh Carnarvon (Penang Hokkien: Lam1 Chan3na4 沓田仔 ), formerly known as Carnarvon Street, is a major street in George Town, Penang. It starts at Lebuh Chulia and ends at Jalan Dr Lim Chwee Leong.

Lebuh Carnarvon was created in the 1860's, and named after Henry Howard Molyneux Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon, who was Secretary of State for the Colonies (the person in charged of the colonies within the British cabinet) between 6 July, 1866 and 8 March, 1867. The year 1867 also happens to be the year that racial polarization erupted into open warfare called Penang Riots, which pitted the Cantonese against the Hokkiens, and both affiliated with Malay groups called White Flag and Red Flag societies.

The Cantonese (Ghee Hin) are based around Jalan Pintal Tali while the Hokkiens (Khian Teik Secret Society and Hai San) are based in Lebuh Armenian. Lebuh Carnarvon became the border between the Cantonese sector and Hokkien sector of town.

Today, in the 21st century, part of Lebuh Carnarvon forms a new border, between the core zone and buffer zone of the George Town Unesco World Heritage Site.

In the mid 20th century, Lebuh Carnarvon was the place to find book shops and coffin makers. This is where you can see the huge Chinese coffins stacked one on top of the other. Paper effigies for use as offering to the departed is another speciality of these shops - all the pleasures of the material world can be reproduced in paper and burnt as gifts for the hereafter. Today almost all the coffin shops have left Carnarvon Street - I am not sure whether the few left are still operating.

Map of Lebuh Carnarvon, Penang

Eateries along Carnarvon Street

Hotels on Carnarvon Street

Sights along Carnarvon Street

Street Art on Carnarvon Street

Businesses along Carnarvon Street

Carnarvon Street, George Town, Penang (15 September 2012)

In Other Words ...

Carnarvon Street is called Lam1 Chan3a4 沓田仔 in Penang Hokkien meaning soggy (paddy) fields.

Getting there

You can reach Carnarvon Street by taking the Rapid Penang Free Shuttle Bus to Station No. 14 (Lebuh Carnarvon). Rapid Penang bus No. 10, 301, 302, 307, 401 and 502 pass through Carnarvon Street.

Carnarvon Street sign (12 November 2008)


Carnarvon Street, as seen from 1st Avenue Mall (21 April 2012)

List of Streets in Penang and Streets in Malaysia