1 Persiaran Gurney

1 Persiaran Gurney, George Town, Penang (19 May 2017)

1 Persiaran Gurney (GPS: 5.42994, 100.32035) is a condominium comprising two blocks located along Gurney Drive in George Town, Penang.

The two blocks of 1 Persiaran Gurney are 27 and 31 storeys in height, holding total of 198 residential units. It was developed by Billand Sdn Bhd at a cost of RM60 million¹. The condominium blocks were built on freehold land between 1984 and 1988, making them two of the earliest condominium blocks in George Town. The units range in size from 1,270 to 1,818 sqft.

There are a total of 192 units at 1 Persiaran Gurney, with about 4 units to a floor. Each unit occupies an area of between 1,400 to 3,000 sqft. There are duplex as well as penthouse units here.

1 Persiaran Gurney occupies a historic site. The plot was the site of the bungalow of Kapitan Cina Chung Thye Pin, the last Kapitan Cina of Perak, and son of the equally imminent Kapitan Cina Chung Keng Kwee, who built Hai Kee Chan, today known as Pinang Peranakan Mansion.

After Chung Thye Pin passed away in 1935, the property was sold and turned into a hotel, known as either Shanghai Hotel (and possibly also Nanking Hotel), and it became a popular venue for hosting wedding banquets. The business was interrupted by the Second World War, during which the Japanese occupied the building, and was said to have imprisoned and tortured prisoners there.

The Shanghai Hotel resumed its business after the war, and continue until 1960, when it finally closed for good. The building was then demolished in 1964. Twenty years would pass before the grounds were redevelop with the first block of 1 Persiaran Gurney being built in 1984.

If you explore the grounds of 1 Persiaran Gurney today, you will come across remnants of the ruins of Chung Thye Pin's mansion, which has been purposely preserved for posterity. I have some photos on this page to show you.

Facilities at 1 Persiaran Gurney

Facilities include security services, multi-storey parking, car wash bay, visitor parking, swimming pool, wading pool, gymnasium, sauna, tennis court, squash court, barbeque pit, children's playground, intercom system and landscaping.

Location of 1 Persiaran Gurney

1 Persiaran Gurney is 2.8 km to Komtar, 9.8 km to the Penang Bridge, 17.8 km to the Second Penang Bridge

and 19.4 km to the Penang International Airport.

Nearby amenities from 1 Persiaran Gurney

Market: Pulau Tikus Market (GPS: 5.43052, 100.31204; 1.8 km)
Hypermarket: Lotus's Tanjung Pinang (GPS: 5.4588, 100.30867; 4.7 km)
Petrol station: Shell Jalan Kelawai (GPS: 5.431126, 100.316347; 850m)
Chinese primary school: SJKC Perempuan Pulau Pinang (GPS: 5.433153, 100.301027; 3.4 km)
International School: St Christopher's International Primary School (GPS: 5.42405, 100.30648; 2.8 km)
Hospital: Gleneagles Medical Centre (GPS: 5.42675, 100.31967; 1.3 km)

Public transport at 1 Persiaran Gurney

The nearest bus stop, along Jalan Pangkor 400m away, is served by Rapid Penang bus 101, 102, 103, 104, 304 and free feeder buses CAT 5 and CAT 7.

Traffic situation at 1 Persiaran Gurney

Traffic along Persiaran Gurney is heavy but compared to other parts of the road, is smooth here. Having said that, exiting the premises can be a challenge due to the fast-moving traffic.