Early growth History of Penang

a 1799 map of george town



an 1810 engraving depicting eastern side of george town



an 1811 painting of george town



1814 print of view overlooking george town



an 1818 painting depicting george town , province wellesley (in horizon), seen hilltop.



st. george s church in george town oldest anglican church in southeast asia.

francis light had established george town free port, allowing merchants trade without having pay form of tax or duties. in effect, measure intended entice merchants dutch ports in region. result, number of incoming vessels increased exponentially 85 in 1786 3,569 in 1802; george town s population had risen 10,000 1792. immigrants came various parts of asia; in 1801, lieutenant-governor of prince of wales island, sir george leith, remarked there not, probably, part of world where, in small space, many different people assembled or great variety of languages spoken . committee of assessors established george town in 1800, making first local government established within british malaya.

in years, george town developed rather haphazardly, buildings , streets built on ad hoc basis. 4 streets - light street, beach street, chulia street , pitt street - formed earliest boundaries of new settlement. segregation of george town s commercial , administrative precincts, ethnic enclaves, can still seen day; banks , warehouses arranged around city s main central business district @ beach street, whereas light street functions government precinct administrative , judicial offices concentrated.

the prince of wales island, province wellesley, had been administered under bengal presidency until 1805, when penang made separate presidency on par madras, bombay , bengal. then, penang served penal station; in 1796, 700 indian convicts shipped in andaman islands. practice of employing indian convicts continued throughout 19th century means provide necessary labour public infrastructure works, such construction of roads, drains , public buildings.

in 19th century, penang became centre of spice production , trade within southeast asia. cultivation of pepper began after founding of george town in 1786. production of spices, including nutmeg , clove, gradually grew more varied , booming spice trade led opening of spice farms on penang. export of spices enabled british east india company cover administrative costs of penang. furthermore, agricultural plantations fuel growth of several villages, such air itam , balik pulau on island, , bukit mertajam in province wellesley. malay refugees fleeing siamese invasion of kedah , chinese immigrants formed bulk of workers in these agricultural estates. other areas, such bayan lepas on island , kepala batas in province wellesley, founded rice-producing estates.