Fort Cornwallis restoration to be completed by 2025

Restoration work on the Fort Cornwallis, a historic structure in Penang, Malaysia, is set to be completed by 2025. The moat restoration project and upgrading a nearby food court are part of the North Seafront Master Plan.

The plan aims to develop the area from Dewan Sri Pinang in the west to Fort Cornwallis and the entrance to Swettenham Pier in the east. The George Town Conservation and Development Corporation (GTCDC), a tripartite alliance consisting of the Chief Minister Incorporated, Think City Sdn Bhd, and Aga Khan Trust for Culture, is carrying out the work. The project is part of a public-private partnership between the federal and state governments.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that the moat would be open to the public upon being restored to its former glory. He explained that a mock-up of the moat, measuring 200sq m, had been completed for the contractor’scontractor’s reference. He emphasised the importance of adhering to the Unesco World Heritage Site guidelines during the restoration.

Chow said the restoration costs RM5.8 million, with the state government contributing RM4.5 million and Think City Sdn Bhd RM1.3 million. He added that GTCDC carried out the restoration work based on the recommendation of the George Town World Heritage Site Special Area Plan and the Fort Cornwallis Conservation Management Plan.

During the excavation work in 2018 and 2019, some 30,000 artefacts were discovered, including cannons, mortars, bottles, broken pieces of ceramics and old coins from British rule and the Japanese Occupation.

The chief minister said that Phase One of the restoration work had been completed, including conserving ten storerooms inside the fort. Phase 1A will begin soon by displaying the exhibits in the storerooms, fixing the lighting, and putting up the explanation panels and software to tell visitors the story about Fort Cornwallis and its significance.

Chow said that the position of Fort Cornwallis was strategic as it is near the cruise ship pier, and nowhere in the country or the region can visitors step right out of their cruise ship into a world heritage site by just taking a stroll. He added that the fort is a significant asset of this world heritage zone and serves as the visitor’s first introduction to the history of the city and the island through engaging presentations and exhibits.