Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower

Name: Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower

Location: Lebuh Light, George Town, 10450 George Town, Penang, Malaysia

Reason to Visit: one of the most famous clock towers in Malaysia, typical Moorish architecture style, famous landmark and historical site in Penang

Opening Hours: 24 hours

Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower is located in Lebuh Light, George Town, 10450 George Town, Penang, Malaysia. It is a landmark and historical site of Penang with its beautiful architecture. Built in 1897, the Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower has a history more than 100 years. It was built to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Queen Victoria's accession to the throne. It is a Moorish-style building of white appearance. The original height of the clock tower was 60 feet to represent every year of the queen's ruling. Due to the bombing during the World War II, the clock tower was a little slanting. The Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower combines the architectural style of Europe and Asia, which is full of charm of history and culture. When you get close to the building, you will find the clock is very beautiful, which was provided by Oxford University. And the clock dial was produced by British royal manufacturer of clocks and watches.

History of Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower

The Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower was built in 1897, with a history of more than 100 years. You can see exquisite windows,  balconies, Roman pillars and golden dome of the building. The construction of this clock tower was funded by a businessman in Penang, costing 35,000 straits dollars. An interesting fact is that the Queen Victoria had never seen this clock tower connected to her. During the World War II, the beautiful Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower was bombed. Though it wasn’t damaged, it was a little slanting after that. Maybe the visitor don’t find that the clock tower is slanting.

Experience and Feel the Moorish Architecture Style

Most of visitors know nothing about the Moorish buildings, but they can experience and feel the Moorish-style by visiting the Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower. The clock tower is a 4-storey building. The first storey is octagonal with arches. The second and third floor are rectangular. The windows and balconies in the second floor are delicate. The clock is in the third floor with exquisite design, which is really beautiful. There are some white Roman pillars on the fourth floor of the clock tower. And there is a golden dome at the top of the building, which makes it look like a mosque. Except for the dome, most of the parts of the clock tower is white.

Strolling around the Street near the Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower

The buildings in Penang are worth visiting except for the Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower. Due to its colonial history, its culture was influenced by Portugal, Netherlands and Britain. And the buildings in Malaysia show diverse styles. You can see the British-style buildings as well as Dutch-style buildings. When you walk around the Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower, you can see the buildings alongside the streets carefully and slowly to enjoy the beauty and charm of the architectures. If you are tired, you can stop to find a store or cafe to have something to eat and drink.

Walk to the Port nearby

The Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower is near the port, and you can walk to the port to enjoy the view of the sea. You can feel the breeze blowing by the sea and enjoy the beautiful view of the sea at the coast. If you arrive the port in the afternoon, you will have the chance to enjoy the stunning view of the sunset on the sea. If you reach the port at day, you can see the beautiful scenery of the blue water of the sea. Standing by the sea and seeing the sea silently, and you will feel totally relaxing and comfortable. The beautiful can heal every visitor and they will forget all the worries or troubles.

Attractions Nearby

Fort Cornwallis

Fort Cornwallis is located in Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah, George Town, 10200 George Town, Penang, Malaysia, which is near the Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower. At the Fort Cornwallis, you can visit the old buildings and British fortress of 18th century. The Fort Cornwallis was named after the Governor-General of British India(Bengal), Charles Earl Cornwallis II. It is the largest and oldest fort in Malaysia.

At the early stage, the construction cost of the Fort Cornwallis was 78,682 Spanish Dollars. After that, it cost about 80,000 Spanish Dollars to rebuilt the fort. And it is said that Fort Cornwallis was partly rebuilt with the materials of the ruins of Malacca Fort after its destruction because the time of the destruction of Malacca Fort is the same as the time of the rebuilding of the Fort Cornwallis. Visiting the Fort Cornwallis, you can feel the memorable history of it. The cannons and old walls seem to tell you the stories of them.