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 BUILT by a Penang Chinese tycoon to commemorate the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria's reign, the Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower remains an important reminder of the colonial years. Cheah Chen Eok, who was a part of "the big five Hokkien families of nineteenth century Penang" (Yeetuan Wong, 2007), spent 35,000 Straits dollars to complete this clock tower in 1902. Sadly, Queen Victoria passed on by 22 January 1901 before the completion of this remarkable tower. Read here for information on the other legacy of Cheah Chen Eok, the Moon Gate near the Botanical Gardens, which is the start of a 7km trek to Penang Hill.
Of the Moorish style architecture, this clock tower, which is 60 feet tall with each foot for each year of the Queen's reign, “possesses four tiers with the base tier designed in an octagonal shape. The next two tiers comprise four distinct faces and decorated with windows, balconies and four working clocks. The top tier is rounded off with roman pillars and rooted with domed cupola…On the base tier lining, it is stated 'This clock tower is presented to Penang by Cheah Chen Eok in commemoration of Her Majesty Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee 1937-1897'.” (Shirley T, 2009)
During the Second World War, many bombs were dropped around the nearby government buildings and interestingly, this resulted in the slight lean of the clock tower. View slideshow below for photos on the tower. References Related articles - Clock tower (Section 1: Colonial Quarter, iGT Geoge Town WHS)
 Click through pictures for slideshow.
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