Jalan Ibbetson, George Town

Ibbetson Road, Penang (31 May 2012)


Jalan Ibbetson, formerly known as Ibbetson Road, is a minor road in the Batu Lanchang area of George Town, Penang. It connects with Grove Road to Jalan Air Itam. Located at Ibbetson Road are the Chung Hwa Confucian Primary School and Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Technical Secondary School.

Ibbetson Road was named after 19th century planter and Straits Settlement Governor Robert Ibbetson. Born in England in 1789, Ibbetson was a contemporary of Stamford Raffles. At age 15, he joined the East India Company, and over time climbed the ranks of the company. Twenty years on, he was to be one of the council members for the Council of Malacca. In 1826 he was appointed the Resident Councillor of Penang. After the seat of the Straits Government was moved to Singapore on 12 November 1929, he assumed the office of the Governor of the Straits Settlement of Penang, Malacca and Singapore from 1832 to 1834. In so doing, he became the only officer of the East India Company to have been around since Penang was made Presidency in 1805.

In addition to his administrative duties, Ibbetson was one of the colonial planters. He opened plantations in the Batu Lanchang area of Penang. His initial commodity crop was nutmeg, but when his trees were diseased, he turned to cocoa. His groves gave the name to Grove Road, which covered much of his plantation land.

In 1879 Ibbetson retired to England and settled in Portmouth, where he passed away on 4 November, 1880. Today the road though his former plantation land in Penang is named after him.

Map of Ibbetson Road, Penang

Sights along Jalan Ibbetson

Getting there

The nearest bus stops are on either sides of Jalan Air Itam, in front of Shang Wu Primary School. The bus stop is served by Rapid Penang bus 201, 202, 203, 204, 306 and 502.

Jalan Ibbetson road sign (5 March 2013)

Bibliography

List of Streets in Penang and Streets in Malaysia