It can be said that this is where the town of Butterworth starts. This, after all, is the first area that one lands upon after alighting from the ferry that arrives from Penang island. Appropriately enough, this quarter is also where the historic industries and infrastructure of Butterworth converged over the last two centuries.
One still sees around the ferry terminal the docks of the 200-year old port, the century-old railway station, an express bus terminal and a major tin smelting plant, each of which contributed immensely to the economic development of Butterworth and the state of Penang in general.
Note that some of the places listed on this website – like the Malaysian Smelting Corporation plant and the Convent Butterworth school – may not be open for visitors without appointment. They are nevertheless recorded herewith due to their intrinsic importance and relevance.
The famous heritage ride across the Penang Channel
Probably the most cherished and well-known icon of Penang, this ferry service which carries motor vehicles and foot passengers became operational in 1925, linking Butterworth on the mainland to George Town on the island. Prior to that, the ferries in the form of large boats were meant for goods and people only.
Southeast Asia’s oldest port from the British colonial era
The port, established soon after English sea captain Francis Light landed on Penang island in 1786 to establish the colonial settlement there, is strategically located off the northern end of the Straits of Malacca, one of the world’s busiest shipping routes.
One of the most important tin smelting bases in the world
The Straits Trading Company (STC) built this plant in 1902 to complement its other tin smelting site in Pulau Brani, Singapore. The company became so big that by 1912 it was supplying one-third of the tin being purchased around the world.
Traditional Malay dishes for an authentic rural dining experience
Set on a charming rustic wooden jetty along the banks of the Prai River, the restaurant offers one of the most relaxed and memorable dining atmospheres in the Prai area.
The Restoran Nelayan Terapung Ujong Batu, as it is known in Malay, has an airy and pleasant ambience for both lunch and dinner. One can be seated close to the riverside pier and soak in the idyllic scenery of mangrove trees, tethered boats and waves lapping along the jetty’s stilts.
Upgraded with modern facilities for the comfort of today’s travellers
Operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB), the current station is a newly built complex to replace an older one that had existed from the early 1900s till 2011.
A school that lived through pivotal moments of Penang’s history
Formerly known as St. Teresa’s Convent, this old school has educated tens of thousands of residents from Seberang Prai, making it one of the most significant institutions in the area.