According to the leaflet given to me (there’s an entrance fee of RM10) Suffolk House is…
“…the first Great House of Penang and Malaysia’s only surviving Georgian mansion. Built in the early 19th century, Suffolk House was the home of some of Penang’s early governors and the scene of many important social and official events.”
Restoring Suffolk House was achieved in 2007 due to a collaboration between the Penang State Government, The Hong Kong Bank (Malaysia), and the Penang Heritage Trust. It won an award of Distinction in the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Culture Heritage Conservation. Sadly the website is a one-page affair—not much information can be gleaned from there.
I took some pictures with my usual Canon gear; the guide told me not to take pictures in certain areas of the building due to “intellectual property rights,” whatever that may be.
(Above and Below) Lush green gardens surround the entire building. Perfect setting for some portraiture photography in the future.
(Above) There’s a fine-dining restaurant in the building, with al fresco seating and an air-conditioned section.
(Below) The upper floor area of Suffolk House. Bounce flash from my Canon Speedlite 580EX II helps fill in the shadow areas.
(Above) There’s a huge balcony on the upper floor. Pairs of Tuscan columns line most areas of the building.
(Below) The central Marble Hall in the lower level. Fill-in flash came to the rescue again. This used to be the dining area in years gone by.
(Above and Below) This bridge crosses to the other side where there’s a lush garden area, again perfect for portrait shooting. In fact when I was there a newly-married couple were having their pictures taken. I need to find a model soon.
