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The City Hall is the local government headquarters in the city of George Town in 
Old photograph of City Hall, with open loggias
{{Malaysian historical architectures and sites Buildings and structures in George Town, Penang
Penang
Penang ( ms, Pulau Pinang, is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia, by the Malacca Strait. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay ...
, Malaysia. Built by the British, it now serves as the seat of the Penang Island City Council and was previously the seat of the George Town City Council.
Originally completed in 1903 as the ''Municipal Offices'', the building was erected at a cost of $100,000 to relieve the demand for office space at the adjacent Town Hall
In local government, a city hall, town hall, civic centre (in the UK or Australia), guildhall, or a municipal building (in the Philippines), is the chief administrative building of a city, town, or other municipality. It usually houses ...
. The name ''City Hall'' dates back to the grant of city status to George Town in 1957.
Both the City Hall and the Town Hall
In local government, a city hall, town hall, civic centre (in the UK or Australia), guildhall, or a municipal building (in the Philippines), is the chief administrative building of a city, town, or other municipality. It usually houses ...
are located at Esplanade Road, overlooking the historic parade ground (the ''Padang'') within the Esplanade. The buildings are also situated within George Town's UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Architecture
Completed in 1903, the two-storey building combines Edwardian Baroque and Palladian architectural styles. It has been listed as a national monument since 1982 under the Antiquities Act 1976. The building was last renovated between 2004 and 2005. Although the City Hall retains much of its original form, the original arcades or loggias on the ground floor have been enclosed with windows.
History
The history of George Town's municipal accommodations began in 1873, when a proposal to construct theTown Hall
In local government, a city hall, town hall, civic centre (in the UK or Australia), guildhall, or a municipal building (in the Philippines), is the chief administrative building of a city, town, or other municipality. It usually houses ...
was first mooted. The construction of the Town Hall
In local government, a city hall, town hall, civic centre (in the UK or Australia), guildhall, or a municipal building (in the Philippines), is the chief administrative building of a city, town, or other municipality. It usually houses ...
commenced in 1879 and was inaugurated in the following year, making it George Town's first municipal building.The Straits Times ingapore21 August 1880: 5. Print.
The Town Hall
In local government, a city hall, town hall, civic centre (in the UK or Australia), guildhall, or a municipal building (in the Philippines), is the chief administrative building of a city, town, or other municipality. It usually houses ...
housed the local government for George Town, the Municipal Commission of George Town and served as a venue for social events for the European elite. However, the Municipal Commission soon deemed the office space within the Town Hall
In local government, a city hall, town hall, civic centre (in the UK or Australia), guildhall, or a municipal building (in the Philippines), is the chief administrative building of a city, town, or other municipality. It usually houses ...
to be insufficient. Hence, plans were drawn up for the construction of another municipal building right next door.
Tenders were called for the construction of the ''Municipal Offices'' in 1900. Lee Ah Chang, a local ethnic Chinese, won the contract with a bid amounting to $75,400 (Straits dollar
The Straits dollar was the currency of the Straits Settlements from 1898 until 1939. At the same time, it was also used in the Federated Malay States, the Unfederated Malay States, Kingdom of Sarawak, Brunei, and British North Borneo.
Histor ...
). The ''Municipal Offices'' was built in the Edwardian Baroque and Palladian styles, which were popular at the time.
By the time the ''Municipal Offices'' was completed in 1903, its construction cost had ballooned to $100,000 (Straits dollar
The Straits dollar was the currency of the Straits Settlements from 1898 until 1939. At the same time, it was also used in the Federated Malay States, the Unfederated Malay States, Kingdom of Sarawak, Brunei, and British North Borneo.
Histor ...
). The Municipal Commission of George Town decided to covertly relocate from the Town Hall
In local government, a city hall, town hall, civic centre (in the UK or Australia), guildhall, or a municipal building (in the Philippines), is the chief administrative building of a city, town, or other municipality. It usually houses ...
into the adjacent ''Municipal Offices'', and that no inauguration ceremony was to be held. Since the completion of the ''Municipal Offices'', the Town Hall
In local government, a city hall, town hall, civic centre (in the UK or Australia), guildhall, or a municipal building (in the Philippines), is the chief administrative building of a city, town, or other municipality. It usually houses ...
took on a more social function.
The ''Municipal Offices'' held the distinction of being one of the first buildings in Penang
Penang ( ms, Pulau Pinang, is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia, by the Malacca Strait. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay ...
to be completely fitted with electric lights and fans.
The ''Municipal Offices'' was renamed the City Hall in 1957, when George Town was declared a city by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. She was queen ...
. Thus, the City Hall served as the seat of the George Town City Council until its eventual merger with the Penang Island Rural District Council to form the Penang Island Municipal Council in 1976. Even after this 1976 consolidation of Penang Island's two local councils, Penangites still referred to the building as the City Hall.
Today, the City Hall serves as the headquarters of the Penang Island City Council.
See also
*Town Hall
In local government, a city hall, town hall, civic centre (in the UK or Australia), guildhall, or a municipal building (in the Philippines), is the chief administrative building of a city, town, or other municipality. It usually houses ...
* Esplanade
* Light Street
Maryland Route 2 (MD 2) is the longest state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. The route runs from Solomons Island in Calvert County north to an intersection with U.S. Route 1 (US 1)/ US 40 Truck ( North Avenue) in Baltimore. The route ...
* Architecture of Penang
References
External links
Old photograph of City Hall, with open loggias
{{Malaysian historical architectures and sites Buildings and structures in George Town, Penang