Coolie Lines, Penang Hill

Coolie Lines, Penang Hill (24 November 2018)


Coolie Lines (GPS: 5.42377, 100.2688) is the former living quarters of the labourers, or coolies, working for the British in Penang Hill. Although there are clusters of coolie quarters in various parts of Penang Hill, the one we call Coolie Lines is the cluster located in the ravine immediately below Astaka Bukit Bendera. You can still reach the site today by climbing down the steps from the astaka.

Although Coolie Lines was once occupied by the coolies, this is all in the past. The houses have been abandoned, and some have been taken over by squatters who are foreign workers. I visited the site with members of AnakPinang, in the company of Penang Hill Corporation general manager Cheok Lay Leng. We saw that the buildings left standing there are forlorn sheds past their original use. As they are no longer occupied, the buildings are in various stages of disrepair, and jungle vegetation is creeping up to engulf them.

You can get a good view of Coolie Lines from the verandah at Astaka Bukit Bendera. In fact, you would see it the moment you step out of Upper Station and make your way towards Astaka. Look down to the ravine below, and what you get is an embarrassing eyesore, not at all congruent with the manicured appearance of Penang Hill, and yet in full view of all Penang Hill visitors.

Update on Coolie Lines

8 November, 2018
New Straits Times reports Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow saying that the disused Coolie Lines area would be repurposed for a hotel, to cater to the increasing needs of visitors to the hill resort. It is one of two hotels to be built on Penang Hill, the other to be located at Convalescent Bungalow. It comes as a bit of an amusement to me that some groups are creating a fuss over the plan. I am not sure whether they have actually visited the site and see that it is a place that was built before, and now is standing there in a dilapidated state, within view of everybody.

Shed at Coolie Lines, Penang Hill (24 November 2018)


Member of AnakPinang checking out one of the disused buildings at Coolie Lines, Penang Hill (24 November 2018)


One of the many disused buildings, in various stages of disrepair, at Coolie Lines, Penang Hill (24 November 2018)


Abandoned building now being occupied by squatters, at Coolie Lines, Penang Hill (24 November 2018)
Building repossessed, not by the government, but by the jungle, at Coolie Lines, Penang Hill (24 November 2018)


Coolie Lines is an embarrasing eyesore in full view of visitors to Penang Hill. (24 November 2018)

Coolie Lines is on the map of Penang Hill