If you’re interested in visiting the old General Post Office Building in George Town you’ll be disappointed as it no longer exists. Above is an old postcard of what it looked like.

Situated in Beach Street it was part of the grand Straits Settlement Building constructed by the British in 1907 to house various government departments. It formed a large U-shaped building fronting on Weld Quay as well as to the rear on Beach Street, which was the commercial and financial centre of the island beginning from the end of the 19th century. The post office was situated in the northern section of the building with access from Beach Street.

During the Japanese occupation of Penang in World War II George Town was bombed by the allies and many buildings in the town were damaged or destroyed. The Straits Government Building suffered particularly heavy damage including the post office, and today only part the building survives. That part which remains is now occupied by the Penang Islamic Council. In the 1960s a new General Post Office building was completed close to its old location in Downing Street.

The General Post Office, Beach Street, George Town, before it was destroyed by allied bombers in World War II (Source, Public domain)

Some of the stamps which would have been sold from the General Post Office