Situated off Pengkalan weld, not too far from the Weld Quay bus station and ferry terminal, Tan Jetty is one of what are collectively known as the Clan Jetties of Georgetown (the most tourist friendly/popular of these being Chew Jetty).

A little history

19th Century Chinese immigrants who lived and worked along the Georgetown waterfront created their own specific settlements known as jetties. Each jetty was named after a particular Chinese clan and the unique communities that emerged mostly engaged in maritime related work such as transporting cargo ships, fishing and working as port labourers.

Their wooden houses were built above the water forming small self-contained villages residing on stilts connected via a series of piers and walkways.

Between the late 19th Century and 1960’s many of these jetties that had appeared began to fall into disuse and/or disrepair and now no longer exist (mostly due to modernisation programmes that saw many areas being completely erased and replaced as well as a decline in the previously bustling maritime industry).

These previously existing jetties extended all the way down the coast of Penang island from Georgetown to Jelutong and included, amongst many others, Ban Liaw Jetty, Hup Choon Jetty, Noordin Street Ghaut Jetty and Peng Aun Jetty.

The currently remaining jetties, collectively known as the Clan Jetties (due to the specific clan nature of each jetty - except for the mixed clan jetty which, as the name suggests, consists of members of more than one clan) are as follows:

• Lim Jetty
• Lee Jetty
• Yeoh Jetty
• Tan Jetty
• Chew Jetty
• Mixed clan jetty

I cannot confirm whether this is true or not but I am led to believe that none of the families who live on the jetties pay tax (as they are not living on land). If true, I’ll bet there’s a lot of people who wish they could land the same deal. Not a bad gig if you can get it!

Tan Jetty

The Tan Jetty is an interesting location to visit as it almost feels like you have stepped back into a different time and culture (I say almost as the presence of satellite dishes, parked motorcycles and telephone/electricity cables are evidence that the jetty is far from detached from the modern world and, to be brutally honest, kind of ruins that initial impression of being from a bygone age).

The sight of mostly wooden houses lining a narrow pier that extends into the Georgetown waterfront with Sampans moored at various points is a world completely foreign to myself.

Having spent my entire life living on terra firma it’s difficult for me to comprehend how generations of families; from the original Chinese settlers to their contemporary descendants, have lived their entire lives in these water villages.

I can only imagine what the settlements must have been like during the early 20th Century when both they and the Maritime trade were at their peak.The vast number of ships traveling in and out of the area. The large number of settlers making their living from activities related to that trade. The interactions with foreign merchants and the possible stories they entailed. The competition for that trade and the rivalries that must have arisen between different jetties. The living and working conditions that must have been anything but gentle. All the stories, dramas and events from the era that remain known to possibly only a select few still living there today.

How interesting would that be to be able to glimpse into and discern more details of?

Some words of warning

Be careful as you walk the pier down towards the end of the jetty as this is a little narrow and, with the volume of tourists visiting that area, can get a little congested.

DO be respectful of the people living in the houses along Tan Jetty as this IS their community and NOT yours. DON’T take photographs of them and/or their homes without their permission (regardless of many people’s behaviour in this age of smartphones and social media other people’s privacy DOES matter and should be respected).

Getting there

Tan jetty is situated 900 metres from the Penang Ferry terminal (simply exit the ferry, turn left onto Pengkalan weld, continue walking for 900 metres and turn left at Gat Lebuh Acheh to arrive at Tan jetty.

Cost

Entry to Tan jetty is free.