Welcome to my historic geocaching tour of the Georgetown UNESCO Heritage waterfront, from the Esplanade to the Clan Jetties (or vice versa). I hope you enjoy a nice walk, learn some history and enjoy another Geocaching adventure!
The Esplanade is the site on Penang Island where Captain Fancis Light, a trader for the British East India Company, first landed on 17 July 1786. Having obtained the island for the British Empire, Light then ordered his ships to fire silver coins into the then forested area to entice immigrants to clear as much land as possible (I love this story!). Fort Cornwallis was also constructed next to the cleared field.
The field, now known as the Padang by the locals, has been used for recreational purposes since the mid-19th century. The Padang was also once utilized as a cricket ground and in 1908 a two-story pavilion was built by the then Penang Cricket Club. Its rival, the Penang Recreational Club, had also erected a similar structure at the Esplanade for its supporters.
Sadly, these structures were destroyed during World War II, when Allied bombers targeted the Esplanade, which was at the time used by the Imperial Japanese Army. The Centotaph, which had been constructed to honor the Allied personnel of World War I, was also reduced to ruins. After the war, the Cenotaph was rebuilt and reopened in 1948.
This geocache is hidden near the walkway that was opened in 2022. The cache is magnetic. Happy caching!