Guillemard Reservoir

Guillemard Reservoir is a reservoir built on a hillside in Vale of Tempe, Penang, 246 feet above sea level. Now officially known as Kolam Air Guillemard, it was named on Tuesday, 16 July 1929 by Sir Hugh Clifford, the Governor of the Straits Settlements, in memory of his predecessor, Sir Laurence Guillemard, who was the Governor of the Crown Colony of the Straits Settlements from 1920 to 1927. Guillemard Road in Singapore is likewise named after him.

Guillemard Reservoir comprises two equal size ponds with two cupolas. Due to its shape like a pair of spectacles, the Guillemard Reservoir became known in Hokkien as "Bark3 Knia1 Tee2", meaning Spectacle Pond. They were designed in the Art Deco style, and constructed in 1929. The waterworks engineer heading the project was James Dollery Fettes, whose name is immortalised in Fettes Park.

Guillemard Reservoir (19 December 2018)
© David ST Loh

Getting there

Unfortunately the Guillemard Reservoir is no longer open to the public. Permission need to be sought from Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang (PBA), tel: (604) 263 4200, web: www.pba.com.my However due to security reasons, this is rarely given.

Road to Guillemard Reservoir (9 June 2012)

Location map of Guillemard Reservoir