George Town Dispensary Building

George Town Dispensary Building (17 November 2013)


George Town Dispensary (GPS: 5.41659, 100.34158) is housed in a landmark three-storey corner building at the junction of Beach Street and China Street Ghaut. The side facing the junction has a classical pediment to mark the main entrance.

This building was constructed in 1923 by architect David McLeod Craik of the architecture firm of Swan & Maclaren. George Town Dispensary was founded in 1889 by Armenian physician Dr Thadeus Avetoom. Of the many dispensaries in Penang, this was to be the most successful during its time. It supplied medicine to hospitals and clinics not only in Penang, but across Malaya and even to Siam.¹

The George Town Dispensary building was initially designed to be two storeys high in 1922. Some alterations had to be carried out that same year to accommodate the additional storey. On the Beach Street side is a five-foot way with the dispensary behind it. On this side of the building is the signage George Town Dispensary.

On the first floor of the building are two physician's consultation rooms with a shared waiting area, and laboratories. This first-floor clinic is accessed through its own staircase on the China Street Ghaut side of the building, which also bears the signage George Town Chambers.

Getting there

From the Weld Quay Ferry & Bus Terminal, cross Pengkalan Weld using the pedestrian bridge. Then turn right, walk along Pengkalan Weld until the junction of Gat Lebuh China. Turn left, walk along Gat Lebuh China until junction of Lebuh Pantai. George Town Dispensary is at the junction of Beach Street and Gat Lebuh China, to the right.

The China St Ghaut side of the building is called George Town Chambers (9 December 2015)


George Town Chambers (4 April 2010)


George Town Chambers (4 April 2010)


View of George Town Dispensary from Lebuh Pantai (25 April 2007)


George Town Dispensary Building (17 November 2013)


George Town Dispensary (4 June 2006)

Nearby Sights

George Town Dispensary Building is on the Map of Lebuh Pantai, George Town, Penang

References