DID you know that Penang Hill, also known as ‘Bukit Bendera’ in Bahasa Malaysia, actually refers to Flagstaff Hill?
During the British colony in Penang, the British flag used to be hoisted at the vicinity of Bel Retiro, a Government administrative building, to signal the presence of incoming visitors.
The Bel Retiro, built in 1789 for the Governor of Penang, is the most prestigious property on Penang Hill. The Bel Retiro has an ideal vantage point of the Andaman Sea and the Malacca Strait.
NatureWalks@Penang Hill founding member K.P. Ong said while the Bel Retiro bungalow and its vicinity are off-limits to the public, visitors could still explore the Gate House which serves as the historic gateway to the Bel Retiro.
“In a distant past, the Gate House served as a holding area for guests of Bel Retiro before it became a guard house,” he said during a brief ‘Student Excursion Programme’ showcase for Buletin Mutiara recently.
The two-hour ‘Student Excursion Programme’ is specially curated for students by NatureWalks@Penang Hill and Penang Hill Corporation (PHC). Available solely for school-organised tours, this programme offers an enriching experience at just RM10 per student, excluding the funicular ticket cost.
Ong said there were two Category One heritage buildings on Penang Hill – the Bel Retiro and the police station on Penang Hill.
“The two-hour educational programme will also expose the students to the amazing heritage buildings and structures such as the Penang Hill Mosque, Sri Arul Oli Thiru Murugan Temple, the cannon, and others.
“The programme is not complete without an exclusive guided tour to the Penang Hill Gallery@Edgecliff. The gallery is a must-visit stop on Penang Hill,” he said.
The Edgecliff Bungalow is a Category II heritage building, first built in 1937 in a grand Art Deco style. Formerly known as Braeside, the bungalow was designed by renowned architect Joseph Charles Miller (1901-1988) as his own home.
According to the information found at the Penang Hill Gallery@Edgecliff, Miller had designed three bungalows – Treetops (1929), The Nook (1929, now in ruins), and Braeside. In 1939, as war threatened, Miller left Penang and never returned.
Ong said the Penang Hill Gallery@Edgecliff serves as a perfect education centre and heritage gallery for visitors.
For more details about the ‘Student Excursion Programme’, call 016-4201189 (a 24-hour advance booking is required).
Meanwhile, for details about the Penang Hill funicular ticketing service, e-mail to [email protected]
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Alissala Thian