Downing Street (Lebuh Downing), George Town

Downing Street, George Town, Penang (25 January 2013)


Downing Street, or Lebuh Downing, is the street within the Central Business District of George Town, Penang. It was named after the famous Downing Street in London, but while the British Prime Minister has his official residence at 10 Downing Street, the British built their government offices on Penang's Downing Street.

The land on which Downing Street is located was reclaimed in the early 1880s, and from then on the block of land bordered by Downing Street, Beach Street, the future Pesara King Edward and the future Pengkalan Weld was developed in stages. Due to its civic nature, the site was called the Government Quadrangle.

Map of Lebuh Downing, Penang

Sights along Downing Street

At the junction of Downing Street and Beach Street there originally stood the offices of the Chinese Protectorate. Also lated here was the Indian Immigration Depot. These two departments looked after the affairs of the Chinese and Indian immigrants respectively. On the area presently occupied by the parking lot was Penang office of the British East India Company. All these three are no longer extant. The Government Offices were erected there in phases. The earliest portion, no longer extant, faced King Edward Place. The Government Offices eventually formed a "U" with the last section completed in 1907. This section is the only one still standing, as the rest were destroyed during the Second World War. It serves as the Islamic Council Building today.

Most of the buildings in the Government Quadrangle is now gone, and the area is occupied by the car park for civil servants. The Penang Malay Chamber of Commerce Building was erected on the plot facing the Light Street Roundabout in the 1980s. The General Post Office is located at the international-style Bangunan Tuanku Syed Putra completed in 1962. It replaces the Post Office that was part of the Government Offices across the street.

The present HSBC Building was also built after the war, as the previous building was also destroyed by Allied bombings.

The Downing Street of today has lost most of its stately buildings that were there before the Second World War. Unfortunately the prime area that was once the Government Offices has not been re-developed, and has remained a car park for the past few decades.

Getting there

From the Weld Quay Ferry & Bus Terminal, cross the pedestrian bridge and then turn right, walk along Pengkalan Weld, and you'd eventually arrive at Downing Street on your left. You can also take Rapid Penang Free Shuttle Bus, get down at Station No. 19 (Lebuh Downing).

Lebuh Downing roadsign (3 January 2020)


Remnant of Government Offices, today the Penang Islamic Council Building (25 January 2013)


Downing Street then (before 1941) and now (2013) (29 January 2005)


Tuanku Syed Putra Building, Downing Street (25 January 2013)


Lebuh Downing road sign (25 January 2013)


Downing Street history plaque (25 January 2013)

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