Katz Street (Lebuh Katz), George Town

Katz Street, George Town, Penang (4 July 2019)


Katz Street (Malay: Lebuh Katz; Penang Hokkien: Lark3-Tiau3 Lor33 ) in Malay, is the 6th of the nine parallel streets from the Prangin Canal. It is within the working class neighbourhood of the Seven Streets Precinct. In Hokkien, Katz Street is called Lark3 Tiau3 Lor3, meaning the 6th Street (from the Prangin Canal).

It was named after the German-born Katz Brothers, who established an import business in George Town in 1864, at the beginning of the tin rush in Malaya. The Katz Brothers, one of whom was Adolf Katz buried at the Protestant Cemetery, was in business with Khoo Tiang Poh (see Li Teik Seah Building), the Sumatran pepper trader, and made a fortune in shipping Sumatran pepper. They were among the German-established businesses in Penang that included Behn Meyer, Brinkmann & Co, and the Huttenbach Brothers. Some of the members of these families are buried in the Protestant Cemetery at Northam Road.

Before the present road and brick town houses were built, the area where Katz Street is located was already a Chinese working class settlement of attap houses. These made way for the buildings that we see today towards the turn of the 20th century, as the town limits of George Town began to expand southwards, with the majority of the shophouse buildings being put up in the 1930's in Art Deco style.

Map of Lebuh Katz, Penang

Sights on Katz Street

Getting there

The easiest way to reach Katz Street by public transport is to take a bus to Jalan C.Y. Choy (Bridge Street) and walk from there. Rapid Penang Bus Nos. 302, 303, 306, 307 and 401 pass through Jalan C.Y. Choy.

Lebuh Katz roadsign (4 July 2019)


Katz Street, George Town, at junction with Bridge Street (6 February 2013)


Junction of Katz Street with Brick Kiln Road (3 February 2013)


Katz Street, as seen from McNair Street intersection towards Brick Kiln Road (2 December 2008)


Lebuh Katz road sign (3 February 2013)


Old Lebuh Katz road sign (2 December 2008)

List of Streets in Penang and Streets in Malaysia