Jalan Brook, George Town, Penang (11 August 2022)
Brooke Road 
is a road in the upscale residential neighbourhood of
Jesselton Heights. There are in fact two different personalities after whom this road could be named. The first is
James Brooke (1803-1868), the first White Rajah of Sarawak, who started a dynasty of white rulers in the state, succeeded by his nephew
Charles Anthony Johnson Brooke aka Charles Brooke (1868-1917), the Second White Rajah, and Charles Vyner deWindt Brooke aka Vyner Brooke (1874-1963), the third and final White Rajah of the state. It is a matter of conjecture why this road should be named after him.
A more likely person after whom Brooke Road was named is Captain Brooke
1, who is the head of a battalion of sepoys in the early 19th century. Brooke had successfully repelled an encroachment by the Siamese who was trying to capture Sultan Ahmad Tajudin Halimshah. This makes more sense considering the sepoys had their barracks nearby, and in fact had the
Sepoy Lines Road to remember their being there.
The road is spelled Jalan Brook (without the final "e") in Malay.
Brooke Road was originall a no-through road. It starts at the intersection with
Jalan Utama across from
Jalan Macalister. It forms a junction with
Jalan Jesselton, which leads to the
Jesselton Heights neighbourhood. It also branches to
Solok Brook. In around 2020, the road was extended to provide one-way exit to
Jalan Scotland.
Residential Properties at Brooke Road
Getting there
Brooke Road is not served by public transport. The nearest bus stop is along Macalister Road, which is served by
Rapid Penang bus 10,
304 and
306.
Jalan Brook roadsign (11 August 2022)
Jalan Brook roadsign (17 November 2010)
Brooke Road, Penang (17 November 2010)
Brooke Road, Penang (17 November 2010)
References
1.
Bygone Kedah by Dato' James F. Augustin, page 38.
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