Northam Road, George Town

5°25′39.08″N 100°19′18.21″E / 5.4275222°N 100.3217250°E / 5.4275222; 100.3217250

Northam Road
Malay: Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah
Chinese: 红毛路 / 紅毛路
Maintained byPenang Island City Council
LocationGeorge Town
West end
East endFarquhar Street
Construction
Inauguration19th century
JALAN SULTAN AHMAD SHAH
Northam Rd10050 P. PINANG

Northam Road is a major thoroughfare along the northern coast of the city of George Town in the Malaysian state of Penang. It continues on from Gurney Drive towards Farquhar Street to the east. Since the 1990s, Northam Road has been part of the city's Central Business District, and along with Gurney Drive, it has seen a significant increase in financial activity.[1]

In the olden days, the northern coast of George Town was simply known as the 'North Beach'. British administrators, including the founder of Penang, Francis Light, were buried within the Old Protestant Cemetery near the eastern end of Northam Road. The road gradually became the address of choice for the Europeans, and later, Chinese tycoons, who built elegant mansions along the road.[2] As a result, Northam Road was also known as the Millionaire's Row by the locals.

Northam Road is also home to some of the tallest skyscrapers in Penang, many of which house commercial enterprises like banks, insurance firms, property and car dealers, and other businesses.

  1. ^ "Penang's new financial hub - Business News | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2017-11-18.
  2. ^ "Millionaire's Row in Penang - Georgetown Attractions". penang.ws. Retrieved 2017-02-17.