Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca

Two UNESCO World Heritage sites in Malaysia

Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of MalaccaUNESCO World Heritage Site

Melaka, above, George Town, below

Location| Malaysia
Includes|

1. Historic City of Melaka
2. Historic City of George Town

Reference| 1223bis
Inscription| 2008 (32nd Session)
Extensions| 2011
Area| 218.76 ha (540.6 acres)
Buffer zone| 392.84 ha (970.7 acres)

Historic City of George Town

Historic City of Melaka

Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca is a UNESCO World Heritage listing[1] comprising the historic urban centres of two cities, Melaka and George Town, that illustrate 500 years of cultural and trade exchange between East and West.

This World Heritage site illustrates the development of maritime urban settlements in the region over time and the contributions of diverse ethnic and cultural groups in developing these cities. The government buildings, churches, squares and fortifications of Melaka demonstrate the early stages of this history originating in the 15th-century Malay sultanate, which was followed by Portuguese and Dutch periods of control beginning in the early 16th century. George Town represents the British era from the end of the 18th century and features residential and commercial buildings of the period. In both cities, the cultural and architectural contributions of local Malays as well as Chinese and South Asian immigrants can be seen, and their own evolutions traced over times as well.

Melaka was inscribed in the listing using the Malay language spelling of the name, as opposed to the more traditional English language spelling of its name, "Malacca".

## Inscription criteria

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The listing was inscribed on the basis of Criterion (ii), "exhibit an important interchange of human values",[2] as the two cities are examples of multicultural trading forged from the exchange of Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures, and three successive European colonial powers over almost 500 years; Criterion (iii): "bearing unique testimony to a cultural tradition",[2] as the cities’ multicultural heritage is expressed through the great variety of religious buildings of many faiths, ethnic quarters, languages, and festivals; and Criterion (iv): "an outstanding example of a type of building or landscape which illustrates a significant stage in human history",[2] as Malacca and George Town reflect a mixture of influences which created a unique architecture, culture and townscape without parallel anywhere in East and Southeast Asia.

## Inscription history

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The listing was originally added to Malaysia’s Tentative List for World Heritage in 2001. The site was inscribed on the list in 2008 by the World Heritage Committee at its 32nd session in Quebec City, Canada.[3]

Singapore and Phuket, also located on the Strait of Malacca, share a history of multicultural colonial development very similar to that of Melaka and George Town and were assessed for possible inclusion in the listing. However, Singapore’s historic core underwent extensive demolition and redevelopment during the 1970s and 1980s, and remaining historic properties lack the integrity necessary for consideration. Phuket’s historical core is considerably smaller and lacks the rich built heritage found in Melaka and George Town.[4]

A minor boundary adjustment was made to the Melaka buffer zone to incorporate the gazetted Chinese cemetery in the Bukit Cina area, as had been recommended in ICOMOS’ original report in 2008.[5]

ICOMOS identified the main threats to the property to be tourism development pressure and traffic. In the longer term, climate change and rising sea levels may create flooding problems. ICOMOS recommended that these issues be addressed specifically in future management plans.[6]

## World Heritage Sites

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### George Town

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The UNESCO-designated site within downtown George Town comprises a 109.38 ha (270.3-acre) core zone surrounded by a 150.04 ha (370.8-acre) buffer zone.[5] This portion of the city centre is the oldest section of the entire city and reflects the British colonial era from the late 18th century.[3] It had been officially designated as a historic enclave in 1987.[6] The Penang Island City Council has identified 3,642 heritage buildings within both zones.[7]

280m
305yds

Historical landmarks within the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Click link at the top right corner to zoom in.

Bank of China Building

Batik Painting Museum

Cenotaph

Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion

CIMB Building

City Hall

Church of the Assumption

Clan Jetties

Eastern & Oriental Hotel

Eng Chuan Tong Tan Kongsi

Esplanade

Foo Tye Sin Mansion

Fort Cornwallis

Fort Cornwallis Lighthouse

George Town Dispensary building

Goddess of Mercy Temple

High Court

HSBC Building

India House

Kapitan Keling Mosque

Khoo Kongsi

Lebuh Aceh Mosque

Little India

Logan Memorial

Nagore Durgha Sheriff

OCBC Building

Old Protestant Cemetery

Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce

Penang Islamic Department Building

Penang Islamic Museum

Penang State Museum and Art Gallery

Pinang Peranakan Mansion

Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower

St. George's Church

St. Xavier's Institution

Sri Mahamariamman Temple

Sri Kunj Bihari Temple

Standard Chartered Bank Building

State Assembly Building

Sun Yat-sen Museum

Swettenham Pier

Town Hall

Wisma Kastam

### Melaka

[edit]

The UNESCO-designated site within Malacca City comprises a 38.62 ha (95.4-acre) core zone surrounded by a 134.03 ha (331.2-acre) buffer zone. Located along both sides of the Malacca River and centred around St. Paul's Hill, this area reflects the historical significance of the 15th century Malacca Sultanate, as well as subsequent Portuguese and Dutch colonial periods. St. Paul's Hill had been officially designated as a heritage zone in 1988.[3]

280m
305yds

Historical landmarks within the Melaka UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Click link at the top right corner to zoom in.

A Famosa

Bukit Cina

Cheng Ho Cultural Museum

Cheng Hoon Teng Temple

Dutch Graveyard

Governor's Museum

Governor's Museum

Hang Jebat Mausoleum

Hang Kasturi Mausoleum

Hang Li Poh's Well

Malacca Art Gallery

Malay and Islamic World Museum

Malaysia Architecture Museum

Melaka Light

Melaka Warrior Monument

Middelburg Bastion

Poh San Teng Temple

Stadthuys

Sungei Ujong War Memorial

Tamil Methodist Church

Christ Church

Church of St. Francis Xavier

Saint Paul's Church

## See also

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* Straits Settlements

## References

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1. ^ "Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca". UNESCO. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
2. ^ a b c "The Criteria for Selection". World Heritage Convention.
3. ^ a b c "Evaluation of Cultural Properties WHC-08/32.COM/INF.8B.1" (PDF). World Heritage Convention.
4. ^ "Evaluation of Cultural Properties WHC-08/32.COM/INF.8B.1, pp. 76-77" (PDF). World Heritage Convention.
5. ^ a b "Evaluation of Cultural Properties WHC-08/32.COM/INF.8B.1, pg. 79" (PDF). World Heritage Convention.
6. ^ a b "Evaluation of Cultural Properties WHC-08/32.COM/INF.8B.1, pg. 78" (PDF). World Heritage Convention.
7. ^ "Draf Rancangan Tempatan Pulau Pinang (Pulau) 2030 Jilid 1". Penang Island City Council.

## External links

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* Official website (in Malay)
* "Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca"
* "The Criteria for Selection"

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World Heritage Sites in Malaysia

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* Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca (2008)
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