Ayer Rajah, Penang

Ayer Rajah was named after Ayer Rajah Bay, the northern bay of George Town which forms the city's northern shoreline and includes the present-day Gurney Drive.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2013/08/31/remembering-tunku/|title=Remembering Tunku - Community {{!}} The Star Online|website=www.thestar.com.my|access-date=2018-01-30|archive-date=2018-11-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130202205/https://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2013/08/31/remembering-tunku/|url-status=dead}}

By 1796, 10 years after the establishment of George Town by Francis Light, more than {{Convert|2000|acre|m2|abbr=on}} of the area had been cleared, forming the Ayer Rajah Estate. The agricultural plantation, founded by Light's Scottish partners, David Brown and James Scott, was owned by the Brown and Scott families.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2013/10/05/george-towns-first-mayor-a-fiery-man/|title=George Town's first mayor a fiery man - Community {{!}} The Star Online|website=www.thestar.com.my|access-date=2018-01-30}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/sunday-vibes/2017/07/257766/penang-scotsmans-legacy|title=A Penang Scotsman's legacy|date=2017-07-16|work=NST Online|access-date=2018-01-30|language=en}} In particular, Scott Road, which runs through the neighbourhood, was named after James Scott.

Other prominent personalities who once resided within this neighbourhood include the first Malaysian Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, and local DAP politician-cum-lawyer, Karpal Singh.{{Cite news|url=http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/in-hour-of-grief-helping-hands-keep-karpals-flame-burning#K28bObDLGTWMJAXl.97|title=In hour of grief, helping hands keep Karpal's flame burning|date=2014-04-20|access-date=2018-01-30}}

The major thoroughfares within the neighbourhood include Ayer Rajah Road (now Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman) and Brown Road. Western Road (Jalan Utama) forms the southern end of the neighbourhood, which is also bounded by Burmah Road to the north.

Rapid Penang bus route 10 includes a handful of stops along Gottlieb Road.{{Cite web |url=http://www.rapidpg.com.my/journey-planner/route-maps/details/10.gif |title=Archived copy |access-date=2018-01-30 |archive-date=2016-07-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702063141/http://www.rapidpg.com.my/journey-planner/route-maps/details/10.gif |url-status=dead }}

File:Disted College Campus, George Town, Penang.jpg at Macalister Road]]

The neighbourhood is served by two primary schools, three high schools and two private colleges, as well as an international school.

Primary schools

• St. Xavier's Primary Branch School{{Cite web|url=http://www.sekolahmy.com/N_PULAU_PINANG/PBB1035.html|title=SK ST XAVIER CAWANGAN - PULAU PINANG - Carian Sekolah Malaysia|website=www.sekolahmy.com|language=ms-MY|access-date=2017-05-20}}
• Penang Chinese Girls' Primary School{{Cite web|url=http://www.sekolahmy.com/N_PULAU_PINANG/PBC1045.html|title=SJK(C) PEREMPUAN CHINA - PULAU PINANG - Carian Sekolah Malaysia|website=www.sekolahmy.com|language=ms-MY|access-date=2017-05-20}}

High schools

• Convent Pulau Tikus{{Cite web|url=http://www.thesundaily.my/news/2017/11/03/convent-schools-will-not-be-closed-landowner|title=Convent schools will not be closed: Landowner|website=www.thesundaily.my|language=en|access-date=2018-01-31}}
• Penang Chinese Girls' High School
• Penang Chinese Girls' Private High School

International school

• St. Christopher's International Primary School{{Cite web|url=http://www.scips.org.my/contact/|title=St. Christopher's International Primary School {{!}} Contact|website=www.scips.org.my|language=en-US|access-date=2017-05-20}}

Private colleges

• DISTED College
• PTPL College{{Cite web|url=http://www.ptpl.edu.my/v8/ptpl-penang.php|title=Pusat Teknologi dan Pengurusan Lanjutan|website=www.ptpl.edu.my|access-date=2017-05-20|archive-date=2019-08-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807074436/http://www.ptpl.edu.my/v8/ptpl-penang.php|url-status=dead}}

Aside from these institutions, the Adventist College of Nursing and Health Sciences, operated by the nearby Penang Adventist Hospital, is also situated at Burmah Road.

The Penang Adventist Hospital, a major private hospital, is located at Burmah Road. Founded in 1924, the 253-bed hospital offers specialist treatments for a variety of medical conditions and has emerged as one of the more well-known hospitals among medical tourists in Penang.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pah.com.my/about/|title=Penang Adventist Hospital|website=www.pah.com.my|access-date=2018-01-30}}{{Cite web|url=http://penangmonthly.com/article.aspx?pageid=3936&name=medical_tourism_a_billionringgit_industry_for_penang|title=Medical tourism: A billion-ringgit industry for Penang|website=Medical tourism: A billion-ringgit industry for Penang|access-date=2018-01-30|archive-date=2017-08-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806141951/http://penangmonthly.com/article.aspx?pageid=3936&name=medical_tourism_a_billionringgit_industry_for_penang|url-status=dead}}

Ayer Rajah is also home to a number of consulates.

• {{Flag|China}}: Ayer Rajah Road{{Cite news|url=http://www.pg.net.my/main/2015/12/31/22-dec-official-opening-of-peoples-republic-of-chinas-consulate-in-penang/|title=22 Dec:- Official opening of China Consulate in Penang|date=2015-12-30|work=Penang + {{!}} 檳城多一些|access-date=2018-01-30|language=en-US}}
• {{Flag|Indonesia}}: Burmah Road{{Cite web|url=https://www.kemlu.go.id/penang/en/default.aspx|title=KJRI Penang - Home|website=www.kemlu.go.id|language=en|access-date=2018-01-30}}
• {{Flag|Thailand}}: Ayer Rajah Road{{Cite web|url=http://www.thaiembassy.org/penang/|title=สถานกงสุลใหญ่ ณ เมืองปีนัง|website=www.thaiembassy.org|language=th|access-date=2018-01-30}}

• Pulau Tikus
• Kampong Serani
• Kampung Siam

{{Reflist}}{{District of North East}}{{Penang}}

Category:Neighbourhoods in George Town, Penang