The Sia Boey Urban Archaeological Park, also colloquially known as the Sia Boey, is an
urban archaeology
Urban archaeology is a sub discipline of archaeology specializing in the material past of towns and cities where long-term human habitation has often left a rich record of the past. In modern times, when someone talks about living in a city, they ...
park
A park is an area of natural, semi-natural or planted space set aside for human enjoyment and recreation or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. Urban parks are urban green space, green spaces set aside for recreation inside t ...
within the city of
George Town in the
Malaysian state
The states and federal territories of Malaysia are the principal administrative divisions of Malaysia. Malaysia is a federation of 13 states (''Negeri'') and 3 federal territories (''Wilayah Persekutuan'').
States and federal territories
Ele ...
of
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 ...
. Located at
Prangin Road, it is touted as the first Urban Archaeological Park in the country.
The Sia Boey Urban Archaeological Park contains various recreational amenities, such as a koi fish-filled revitalised Prangin Canal, aged-old trees and a playground for the kids, all of which are open to the public. The park is maintained by the Penang Development Corporation. The cost of diverting and restoring the old canal, as well as the construction of the new canal and "archaeological" works, was RM9.1 million ringgit, while the Old Prangin Market was being restored at a cost of RM5.1 million.
History
With operations concentrated around the Prangin Canal, the 19th-century market hall, and the shophouses, "Sia Boey" was an early trading area in George Town. "''Sia Boey''" in Hokkien (;
Tâi-lô: ''Siā-bué'') and "''Ujong Pasir''" in Malay both mean "end of the town". Sia Boey has long been a hub for community participation, a place where people can connect and socialise. The Hokkien community established an urban settlement around the Canal in the mid-1880s, with a lively market hall in the centre and shophouses surrounding it, while the thriving trading sector also included Malays, Indians and Acehnese.
Following the relocation of the Sia Boey Market to Macallum Street Ghaut in early 2000s, the site was earmarked for a while as Penang Island's transit hub. This grew into the Komtar LRT Station, which was originally planned to be built on top of the idle market building, but because to local resistance, the station was moved to
Magazine Road
A magazine is a periodical publication, generally published on a regular schedule (often weekly or monthly), containing a variety of content. They are generally financed by advertising, purchase price, prepaid subscriptions, or by a combination ...
instead, saving the heritage structure from demolition.
In October 2015, the Centre for Global Archaeological Research,
University of Science Malaysia
Universiti Sains Malaysia ( 'Science University of Malaysia'; abbreviated as USM) is a public research university in Malaysia. Founded on 1 June 1969 as a statutory body with its own constitution, it is among the oldest institutes of higher l ...
, discovered a granite construction that was eventually identified as the Old Prangin Canal Basin. Penang Development Corporation, as the project owner, and George Town World Heritage Incorporated, as the project partner, were motivated by the archaeological potential of these discoveries to develop the site into Malaysia's first Urban Archaeological Park.
In February 2018, the Technical Review Panel (TRP) approved the rejuvenation after hearing the plans. Following the completion of the diversion in October 2016, the Sia Boey Rejuvenation Project was officially kickstarted on March 25, 2018, the rehabilitation took undertaken from May to August 2018, with the goal of transforming Sia Boey into a place where development and historical conservation can coexist. Penang Chief Minister
Chow Kon Yeow
Chow Kon Yeow ( zh, s=曹观友, t=曹觀友, p=Cáo Guānyǒu, c=, poj=Chô Kuan-iú; born 14 November 1957) is a Malaysian politician who has served as 5th Chief Minister of Penang since May 2018, Member of the Penang State Legislative Assem ...
officially opened the country's first Urban Archeological Park on 9 November 2019.
The Sia Boey Urban Archeological Park adds to the
UNESCO World Heritage Site of George Town. It adds to the great universal value by providing programming and space for local residents, as well as repairing shophouses and embodying the cohabitation of heritage conservation, cultural heritage education, urban greenery, and sustainable development.
Gallery
File:Sia Boey 1.jpg,
File:Sia Boey 5.jpg,
File:Sia Boey 11.jpg,
File:Sia Boey 12.jpg,
File:Sia Boey 16.jpg,
File:Sia Boey 17.jpg,
References
{{Parks in George Town
Parks in George Town