Northam Road, George Town
Road in George Town, Penang, Malaysia / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Malay: Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah Chinese: 红毛路 / 紅毛路 | |
Maintained by | Penang Island City Council |
---|---|
Location | George Town |
West end | City centre:
|
East end | City centre: |
Construction | |
Inauguration | 19th 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. The road is a one-way road, with the traffic directed eastwards towards Farquhar Street. 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.