1886 Building, Beach Street

1886 Building, Beach Street, George Town (19 January 2011)


1886 Building (GPS: 5.41715, 100.34171), today part of the OCBC Premier Banking complex - so named for the year of its construction - is probably the oldest commercial building on Beach Street, George Town, that has retained its original appearance. It used to house Goon Yen & Friends, an upmarket emporium - one of the first in George Town to be owned by non-whites. Upmarket shops and offices, including Howarth Erskine Engineers occupied the rest of the building.

On the upper floors are lovely French windows that open out to cast iron balconies - they were fortunate to have survived till this day, as metal were taken away by the occupying Japanese forces during the war. Topping the building is a dentilated cornice and a parapet wall.

1886 Building, George Town (4 January 2009)


1886 Building, before restoration (27 December 2004)

Getting there by public transport

The free CAT shuttle bus service stops at the bus stop along Beach Street near the 1886 Building.

The 1886 Building is on the Map of Beach Street, Penang

List of Historic Buildings in Penang and Historic Buildings in Malaysia