Sia Boey Market

Sia Boey is the name for a locality within George Town and in Hokkien it means “Town’s End”, came about in the 19th century, when George Town reached only to the Prangin Canal. Until the mid 19th century, the area beyond the Prangin Canal has not been developed yet. There were a few attap houses here and there forming a small Chinese village called Kuay Kang-nga, meaning “Beyond the River”, located where Maxwell Road and Komtar is today.

By the 1870′s there were plank bridges across the Prangin Canal. A bridge that linked Beach Street to the path beyond (yet to be called Bridge Street / Jalan CY Choy) was named Anson Bridge, after Archibald Anson, who served as Lieutenant Governor of Penang, Resident Councillor of Penang (1867-1882), and Major General of Singapore (as cross reference, read Governors of the Straits Settlements). The bridge has since disappeared, as the size of Prangin Canal has reduced to a ditch.

Since the late 19th century to the late 20th century, the Sia Boey area became synonymous with its wholesale market, so much so that to most Penangites, the very mention of Sia Boey conjured images of a bustling market activity. The character of Sia Boey begins south of Malay Street, and continues all the way to Magazine Road. Within this area, one find activities related to the wet market, including the sight of salted fish being sun-dried, gunny sacks of onions and potatoes, shops selling rattan products and basketware, animal feed, fertilizers and pesticides, and so on.

With the relocation of the Sia Boey Wholesale Market to Macallum Street Ghaut, Sia Boey is temporarily quiet, and a bit forlorn. Development is on its way, as the area is earmarked as the new transportation hub of the city.