Proposed Green Hall-Esplanade Waterfront Promenade

Green Hall-Esplanade Waterfront Promenade is a 570-meter public promenade proposed by the George Town Special Area Plan. It covers the stretch of sea frontage from Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah to Green Hall.

Appreciating the History of this Site

The grounds facing the sea, which is today between City Hall and Green Hall, were purchasing by wealthy Chinese families from the mid 19th century. The Khaw family, whose most prominent scion was Khaw Sim Bee, owned this land, which they called Ranong Ground, after Khaw's position as Governor of Ranong, Thailand. They had a mansion here called Rajah's Lodge in the late 19th century, sitting on the site of Dewan Sri Pinang.

Inland from the Khaw property was land owned by the Koh family, whose history with George Town goes back to the arrival of Koh Lay Huan, who was a Chinese community leader - or Kapitan - in Kedah, until he relocated to Penang following the establishment of George Town by Francis Light. Koh's most prominent descendant was his grandson Koh Seang Tat, who had his house off Light Street in the area. The house was named Edinburgh House following the 1869 visit of the Duke of Edinburgh, who stayed there. He is best remembered for the Municipal Fountain which he donated in 1883 following the completion of the Town Hall.

Location Map of Green Hall-Esplanade Waterfront Promenade

Location of the public realm is marked with "HERE".