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The
Crag hotel
Visit date:
2008
Year of build:
1929
Status:
Abandoned / 2009 talks about possible restoration
The first incarnation of
a hotel at this site first appeared in around 1895.
In 1905 the famous Sarkies brothers took over ownership
of the hotel and expanded its operations. The Sarkies
were the same brothers behind such hotels as the Raffles
in Singapore, the Strand hotel in Rangoon and of course
the E&O down the hill in George town.
In 1919 the government (FMS Railway Administration)
acquired the Crag hotel from the Sarkies, adding it
to their growing portfolio of hotels from around Malaya.
Two years later the Sarkies brothers declared bankruptcy
due to cash shortage due to mismanagement by a senior
partner.
With the completion of the funicular railway in 1924
as well as a road to the top of the hill, business and
tourism expanded greatly on Penang hill. The new funicular
and dirt road also allowed easier transportation of
building materials up to the top from the lowlands,
seeing many new structures and buildings being constructed.
So it was of no surprise that in 1929 the owners of
the Crag planned and built a new large main building
housing dinning rooms, entertainment and lounge areas
for guests.
The rest of the hotel was comprised of several chalets
for guests dotted around the main central building,
these were all linked by winding pathways and lush tropical
planting.
The Crag was a choice destination for honeymooners of
the time and saw good business up to the beginning of
WW2. During the war the site was left abandoned, although
it is very possible the Japanese used the site for some
purpose.
After the war the hotel started up business once again
that lasted for less than 10 years, closing down in
February of 1953, capping off a proud 66 years worth
of history. There were plans to revive the hotel but
these never materialized.
It was only in 1955 that the location was brought back
to life when the site was leased to the Uplands school.
Uplands was a school for planters children of all races.
In 1977 the Uplands School relocated to new facilities
leaving the Crag site abandoned right up until this
day.
Today a huge radio antenna blights the site and as far
as I know there are no plans in the pipeline to conserve
this historic location. The Crag site is one of those
rare locations that still retains that period feeling
of history in many of its buildings. As you walk through
each space it's like stepping back in time, a truly
memorable walk back into history! |
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