Leith Street (Lebuh Leith), George Town

Leith Street, George Town, Penang (15 December 2012)


Leith Street (Malay: Lebuh Leith; Penang Hokkien: Lien3 Hua3 Ho2 ), or Lebuh Leith in Malay, is a minor street in George Town, Penang. It is one of the early streets of the city. Named after George Leith, the Lieutenant Governor of Penang from 1800-1803, Leith Street was created at the turn of the 19th century. At that time, Penang Road includes the whole stretch of what is known today at Northam Road.

In its earliest incarnation, Leith Street was lined with coconut trees - there must have been a fork coconut tree there which gave the road its Malay nickname of Nyior Cabang. The street was inhabited by the peoples of the Indian subcontinent - the Benggalis, the Biharis, and so on, spilling over from neighbouring Chulia Street and Penang Road. Many of the Indian Muslims left their mark in this area, such as the Benggali Mosque here.

In late 2018, a road was created tracing the route of the former Martina's Lane, between Farquhar Street and North Beach. It was named Gat Lebuh Leith even though it does not meet Leith Street at an intersection.

Map of Lebuh Leith, Penang

Hotels on Leith Street

Sights along Leith Street

Street Art on Leith Street

Eateries on Leith Street

Businesses along Leith Street

Leith Street became gentrified towards the end of the 19th century, and by the turn of the 20th century, it has become an affluent enclave of rich Hakkas. Among the Hakkas who made their home at Leith Street included Leong Fee (the father of Leong Yin Kean), Tye Kee Yoon, and most famous of them all, Cheong Fatt Tze. Outside Cheng Fatt Tze's fabulous mansion was a lotus pond from which was derived the Hokkien name for Leith Street, Lian3 Hua3 Ho2 (Lotus Pond).

By the mid 20th century, Leith Street had lost its lustre. All the early century millionaires have passed on, and their mansions have fallen into disrepair. Eventually each was given a new lease of life, as hotels and hawker centres. Leong Fee's mansion became a learning institution, the Akademi Seni Equator. Cheong Fatt Tze's mansion was restored in a project that won a prestigious Unesco award, and today serves as a boutique hotel.

Pre-war shophouses along Leith Street. (15 December 2012)


Pre-war shophouses along Leith Street. (15 December 2012)


Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion on Leith Street (11 February 2013)


Oriental Hotel building, at the junction of Penang Road with Leith Street. (15 December 2012)


Leith Street history plaque (24 November 2008)

Leith Street on Google Maps Street View

Getting to Leith Street

Take the Free Rapid Penang Shuttle Bus to Station No. 17 (Lebuh Muntri). Walk from Penang Road through Muntri Street to reach Leith Street.

List of Streets in Penang and Streets in Malaysia