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The Start & End of Gurney Drive Back in 1930, plans were drawn up to build a coastal road to span George Town's northern coasts by extending North Beach i.e. from the older part of Northam Road. By the year 1934, this North Beach was extended by 510 yards. I suppose the the entire stretch was only completed two years later in 1936 proper Northam Road was installed. This whole area was the coastline one place called Teluk Ayer Rajah. it is a shallow bay started at the Northam Road and the other end - the Tanjong Tokong fishing village. To recover and stabiles the land along this part of the shore line, land was reclaimed and that work took them up to the late 1940s, Without having a formal road then, seaside bungalows had been built much earlier in the area. Some of the colonial buildings still standing are the Loke Mansion and the St. Joesph's Novitiate, which was owned by the Catholic De La Salle Brothers and has been integrated into Gurney Paragon Mall. Other mansions have also been merged into more modern condominiums, such as Kapitan China Chung Thye Pin's mansion, which is occupied today by One Persiaran Gurney condominiums. New controversy whether a proper road with breakers should be installed along the new coast line. There was the new Kelawei Road in the new reclaimed area plus a another road. Typical of Penang mentality, many ideas were thrown in for discussions. Initially, Burma Road was to be renamed as Gurney Road, but New Coast Road was chosen instead. So, finally the name Gurney Drive was given in 1952 to this new road hugging the coast. Without the need to elaborate "Gurney" was in honour of the then British High commissioner Sir Henry Gurney. Controversies didn't end there If not for a sheer stroke of luck, Gurney Drive would have been named "Pantai Merdeka" instead. A
George Town Municipal Council Commissioner suggested in 1956 that
Gurney Drive should be renamed Pantai Merdeka. The council agreed
and that renaming would take place on 31 August 1957, Malaya's
independence day. Simultaneously a bust of Sir Henry Gurney was
to be constructed as well. The then Settlement Secretary refused to
write to Lady Gurney about the matter, leaving the Municipal
Commissioners to write directly to her. Lady Gurney stoutly accepted
the change and offered to assist with the bust. However, after the
Finance Committee was informed that the recommended provision for
the bust amounted to $6,000 was not there, it was decided not only
to defer the construction of a bust, but also that the road should
continue to be named Gurney Drive. Since
1977, condominiums and high-rise hotels have mushroomed along Gurney
Drive. Today's Gurney Drive is home to some of Penang's most modern
skyscrapers. In 2001, Gurney Plaza mall was opened, followed by the
more upscale Gurney Paragon mall in 2013. The integrated twin
condominiums of Gurney Paragon are touted to be Penang's second
tallest skyscraper. Sounds like a good look back into history except I had pictures purportedly taken in the mid 1930s showing the beach front was low walls 1890 # 1 Seaside Kampong That's how a typical Malay kampong looks like along the beach before the days of Gurney Drive
# 2 Seaside Kampong From the looks of the shoreline, earlier attempts to reclaim land must be confined to strengthening the shoreline. Unlike modern days, reclamations means gaining large stretches of "new" land
1900 # 3 Original bay -Teluk Ayer Rajah Good picture - the whole "Gurney Drive bay" seen in its original and stretched all the way to the Tanjong Tokong fishing village
# 4 Newly completed Gurney Drive Cannot tell the date of this picture. Should be dated after 1936. The guard rails for the sea front was made from wrought iron. Interesting collection as the next picture shows it was replaced by a low concrete bund acting as seats as well.
1930 # 5 New brick houses So much hype talking about a new coastal road, the settlement along the beach was already fairly a built up area, if the date of 1930 is correct
# 6 Road that defined Waterfront Gurney Drive was not named until 1956. So this stretch of road must had being then known as North Beach Road
Shanghai Hotel # 7 Full view Frontage Chung Thye Pin, a Justice of Peace as well as a renowned Kapitan Cina of Perak made sure his home was built to the highest of specifications.There were even underground chambers as well as subterranean passageways in the building but there are so many versions to the story but one has absolutely no idea what these were used for. The wealthy Hakka gentleman passed away in 1935 and shortly after, the place was sold and turned into the Shanghai Hotel, a popular venue for wedding tea parties in its early days. Unfortunately, the building was so grand it impressed the Japanese during the Second World War! They occupied the building soon after they took control of Penang. Shanghai Hotel continued running after the war, the harm had been done. Guests came away with spooky tales of eerie encounters with tortured souls. The hotel closed probably around 1960. The building was demolished in 1964 and after some hiccups, the first two blocks of 1 Persiaran Gurney were built.
# 8 - @ Kelawai Road Junction with Pangkor Road Parallel and behind of eastern edge of Gurney Drive Note - There was a slight change in the signage
# 9 More picture - Shanghai Hotel Cannot tell you when this picture was taken. Color print in Malaysia started in 1974. But there is always a way to convert Black&white into color
I am glad to have found these pictures. Doubt not many in my generation knew about this piece of history. Of special significance to me, Tuck Hing father's wedding reception was held there Green Parrot # 10 The Green Parrot Cabaret Green Parrot was located at the western end of Gurney Drive. Singer Colleen Read was singing with her Uncle Leo Aeria, his band Jimmy Ooi and George D'Almeidare Quoting from her collection - " You had to drive 200 yards through a somewhat spooky Rambutan estate and get to this colonial style bungalow just by the sea. The bandstand was outside with a painting as backdrop. A half moon Dance floor with tables and chair spread up all the way to the sea wall. At times when the sea was rough, the waves would splash over the wall and customers would have to move away quickly Can see part of that half moon structure in White
The band that was playing in Green Parrot Parrot 1956 Dragon Boat Race # 12 Dragon Boat Race By the turn of the century, the spice farms in Ayer Itam became productive and migrants settled down in Georgetown, Time to develop the island The Northern Coast Road was mooted It was also around that time Chinese settlers thought of the idea of having Dragon Boat race in 1934 but nothing happened. Not until 1956 This was the first time that event was organized in Penang and also the first time outside China. Look at the crowd in the picture. What happened after that year was not very clear but the next time the event was held was 10 years later in 1966. Since then it became an annual affair with various venues tried - like that in Mengkuang Lake. Then in 1979 that the Teluk.Bahang Dam became the permanent venue ever since The race is held on the 5th Day of the 5th Lunar month to commemorate a historical Chinese legend A dragon boat race off Gurney Drive in 1986.
Well, some facts need verifying. date is 1956 and not '53. Why this picture is in color as color print has not arrived in Malaysia until 1974 # 13 Dragon Boat Race This picture showing the race held in Gurney Drive. The year color print was launched in Malaysia
# 14 Dragon Boat Race This Black & White picture tells of the pre-1974 days
Those wonderful days @ Gurney Drive Now looking back into the heydays where visiting Gurney Drive was a pleasure and a privilege, I am so happy to have found this set of burry pictures to reflects my thoughts. First - a picture of the quiet and deserted sea front, most likely in the heat of the mid day sun # 15 That old day's look
# 19 The beach! The beach!
# 20 Down memory Gurney Drive
# 21 Empty Road
# 22 Hawkers on the road Then the busy evening crowd that would start gathering in the late afternoon
# 23 Hawkers - So nostalgic
# 24 Relaxing hours An explosion of activities when it was still bright but the sun had gone down
# 25 Beautiful sea front of Gurney Drive Back to a serene a quiet evening by the sea side
# 26 Nice for a short evening stroll Enjoying the nice cool gentle breeze and not hassled by the crowd
# 27 A quiet evening by the sea Finally the walkway was broadened to attract more locals and visitors
1976 # 28 Exit - Round-About Here I am referring to Sunrise Tower 190-192 Gurney Drive completed in 1977 on the opposite end of the Kelawai Road with Shanghai Hotel.
# 29 Private residential home. Cannot tell the time this picture was taken but definitely after 1974
# 30 Private residential home. So the 4 houses sold mentioned at the end of this page may not necessary be the last of the private homes along Gurney Drive. I found this one with this picture taken in 2021
1976 # 31 Hawkers' Center In later years - Most people drawn to to Gurney Drive for the food in the hawker Center
# 32 Pictures with original views Collection of old pictures A good look at the peaceful road and a clear view of the coast without those ugly fencing
1980 # 33 Casuarinas Trees Row These are really valuable pictures of the old times showing the casuarinas Trees in Gurney Drive still in growing stage
# 34 Typical of Gurney Even with the mudflats and foul smells, we did not mind. Think about it? Now no more view but just a wall of weeds and creepers
# 35 the 18 Floor Sunrise Tower This is the iconic Sunrise Tower at one end of Gurney Drive also at the round about. It occupies the piece of land formally housing the Green Parrot Cabaret. I am happy that this picture was done without the present 24 floors Sunrise Gurney SOHC which was completed in 2017.
2021 # 36 Seafood Restaurant Ooops! The fencing is up This is the corner where we would go for Waders in the mudflats
# 37 Well Known coffee Shop Notable landmark for foodies! I never agree with those foodies promoting Song River as one of the top spot for Penang street Food. But sorry! they too had seen better times
# 38 Back to Pictures in memory The days of the Mudflats as an easy destination for Waders. Even that privilege to watch is taken away
# 39 The original but updated Gurney Drive This is a very different skyline showing the changing times of Penang. So are gone our smelly mudflats too
# 40 A metropolitan beach front I cannot ignore these buildings as if they are non existence
# 41 Night View They were the new Gurney Drive scenes, marking the end of leisure walk with good breeze along the coast by night
# 42 Pictures without fencing More down memory lane look - the same view by day
# 43 Pictures without fencing Let the paradise be gone but still memory still revived by a picture of those last days when the view was not shut off yet
# 44 Scene in Memory - view from sea Yes even got this last look at the coastline minus the fencing and Mangrove forest
# 45 Scene in Memory - view from sea II This Beach shown here! Gone forever The Mangrove trees, yet to be planted
2021 Gurney Wharf??? Gurney Wharf (proposed), Gurney Drive, # 46 Proposed Plan This is a man made island adjacent to the northern shore of Penang Island. Taking away the mangrove forest in Tanjong Tokong and putting the beautiful esplanade of Gurney Drive in the background. This Island is suppose to steal the show.This is s 760-acre land filled island, just across the waterway Handled by a company STP to create an new iconic destination Andaman will be an integrated township built around six core pillars, namely residential, education, shopping, health and wellness, work, and sustainability.
2021 # 47 The new Perimeter fencing Got this picture in the early days when the fencing was first erected and the Mangrove Tree, yet to be planted
x # 48 Casuarinas Drive - Living with a new fence In 1962, Casuarinas trees were planted along a section of Gurney Drive. Another nonsensical suggestion came up from a George Town City Councilor, this time suggesting that Gurney Drive should be renamed Casuarinas Drive or Casuarinas Beach. To this day, the particular stretch of Gurney Drive lined with Casuarinas trees is a distinctive section of the this coastal Drive
2022 # 49 fence started at the Round About Gone are the days of strolling along the sea side and the evening breeze
# 50 The new look Where is the catch phrase? "Lets go to Gurney Drive for a walk"
#51 Deserted Road Gurney Drive? Huh!
Pix # 52 Trees and Walk - equally desolate. Pity1
2022 # 53 The new Look Told you, double layer. First the view blocked of by his fencing. Secondly by a layer of impenetrable Mangrove Forest. They call this "Greening the City"
25th July 2022 Last dance # 54 Last of the old houses The last four ‘sea-facing’ bungalows on Penang’s nostalgic strip in Gurney Drive are gone – sold for over RM20mil to Hong Kongers. While there are no known plans yet over the fate of the land, its yield may go up to over RM130mil in the future.The bungalows are the “last stretch” of old properties along Gurney Drive, Real estate investors from abroad have been eyeing Gurney Drive for some time, buying up old landed properties at over RM1,000 per sq ft. As a comparison, the average gross selling prices of new luxury high-rise residences in Kuala Lumpur ranged between RM750 per sq ft and RM960 per sq ft in the first half of 2021.The island has been captivating Hong Kong buyers in the past few years, with a number of celebrities, including superstars Jackie Chan, Andy Lau and Simon Yam said to own homes here.
# 56 Remnant private homes Just in time before the new owners carry out their plans to demolished these. Caught the moments that they were up for grab too
#57 Most buildings were run down eateries and also an eye sore in sharp contrast to the high end condos.
# 58 Remnant private homes A very memorable moment indeed to see this scene
I took time and pleasure in assembling the pictures, my valuable collection of old picture showing the old times. Means so much to those who have lived through these glorious period but sad to let go of the privilege bestowed upon us. To the younger set and passer-by it is all part of the changing scenes. No big deal!
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11 The # 11 Green Parrot Cabaret
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