Ipoh Oldtown Heritage

Recently, I have participated a photographic outing in Ipoh Oldtown. The name of the event was "Follow The Experts 02 : Ipoh Heritage Trail", organized by Futuromic Photo AV. The trail was around Oldtown area and estimated 2 hours long according to Ipoh Heritage Trail Map 1, which is available at Perak Tourist Centre. Below are some of my noob shoots taken during event, which are pale into insignificance as compared to the experts.

 

1). Ipoh Railway Station is the first landmark on the map, was completed in 1917 in Neo-Classical architecture style as designed by A. B. Hubback. Often referred as the "Taj Mahal" of Ipoh, a little bit over exaggerated, don't you think so?

2). This is where Ipoh got its name from, a tree?! Yes since the year of 1878, a.k.a. Upas, Epu, or Ipoh Tree, located in front of the railway station. The latex from the tree can be used to make poisonous darts for blowpipe for the indigenous people, scary?!

3). The War Memorial is the second landmark in the map, which is also located in front of the railway station. The memorial commemorates the brave men fought in Perak during the First and Second World War.

4). Town Hall and Old Post Office is the third landmark on the map. It was constructed from 1914 to 1916, applied similar Neo-Classical design as the Ipoh Railway Station, yet again designed by A. B. Hubback.

5). Tun Razak's Library lies at the T-junction between Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab (Club Road) and Jalan S. P. Seenivasagam (Clayton Road).

6). The overall view of Ipoh Padang.

7). The Town Padang Mosque is the eighth landmark of the trail, which was constructed by Shaik Adam, a wealthy Tamil Muslim in 1908 in Mogul style at a cost of $500,000.

8). F. M. S. Bar & Restaurant is the ninth landmark of the trail, which was founded in 1906 by a Hainanese immigrant. F. M. S. stands for Federated Malay States, reputed to be the oldest restaurant in Malaya. 

9). Hongkong and Shanghai Bank is the tenth landmark of the trail, which was built in 1931 in Neo-Renaissance style. It was the tallest in town until post-independence and still operating until this very day.

10). Chung Thye Phin Building is the twelfth landmark on the map, which was built in 1907 by the last Kapitan Cina of Perak and the building was named after him. It has long been associated with medicine, which it first housed Dr RM Connelly's Medical Hall, then Oldfields Dispensaries and finally Georgetown Dispensaries, which was closed down many years ago.

11). Straits Trading Building is the thirteenth landmark of the trail, where OCBC Bank housed currently. This building was erected in 1907 in Italian Renaissance style, with a corner clock tower on top of the building. At the peak of their business, Straits Trading Company handled half of the tin ore sales in the state.

12). Birch Memorial is the eighteenth landmark on the mark, which is a clock tower built in 1909 to commemorate J.W.W. Birch, who was assassinated in Pasir Salak in 1875. The panels portray famous figures from world history, unfortunately the figure of Jesus Christ was wiped off by vandalism.

13). The State Mosque of Perak situated opposite of the Birch Memorial.

14). Concubine Lane (Panglima Lane) is the last landmark of the trail, where these townhouses were renowned for opium, gambling and brothels. At the turn of the last century, the lane was developed into residential area where the rich Chinese tycoons kept their mistresses.



View Larger Map