Gurney Bay is a seafront park on reclaimed land in Georgetown, Penang. The reclaimed land is off the seafront promenade of Gurney Drive. This coastal road used to be lined with mansions and low-rise villas, and it was referred to as Millionaire’s Row. There was a beach along this stretch of coast, but coastal erosion had turned the beach into a mud flat.
[Gurney Drive before the land reclamation work.]
The land is being reclaimed by Tanjung Pinang Development Sdn Bhd, which also developed the nearby Seri Tanjung Pinang project. The original plan was to use the reclaimed land for residential development. The Penang state government then proposed turning a section of the reclaimed land into a public park.
Land reclamation off Gurney Drive commenced in 2016 with the installation of a fence along the coastal road. The project was originally known as Gurney Wharf, and it was renamed Gurney Bay in 2023. The 24.28-hectare park has four zones – a beach, a coastal grove, a water garden and a lifestyle area.
Phase 1 of Gurney Bay opened in 2024, while the rest of the project is expected to be completed by 2025.
A bridge is being built from Gurney Bay to the Andaman island project (Gurney Bay and Andaman are Eastern & Oriental projects). The proposed Penang Undersea Tunnel would also be in the Gurney Bay area, but the project is uncertain.
Gurney Bay map
[Map of Gurney Bay.]
Links and resources
Tanjung Pinang Development Sdn Bhd.
Eastern & Oriental Berhad (parent firm of Tanjung Pinang Development).
Gurney Bay photos
2024
Photos from my visit on 18 May 2024.
[Gurney Bay entrance.]
[Entrance to Lower Promenade of Gurney Bay.]
[Gurney Bay carpark.]
[Gurney Bay walkway.]
[Sheltered rest area at Gurney Bay.]
[Playground at Gurney Bay.]
[Apartment towers on Gurney Drive overlooking the park.]
[Canal between Gurney Drive and Gurney Bay.]
[Construction at unfinished section of Gurney Bay.]
[Gurney Bay work site (the two towers in the distance is the City of Dreams Complex).]
2023
[Land reclamation along Gurney Drive (21/03/23).]
[Sand for land reclamation (21/03/23).]
2018
[Land reclamation along Gurney Drive (29/03/18).]
[Sand for land reclamation (29/03/18).]
News archive
2024
Replace contractors if Gurney Bay project delayed further, Penang told – [29/05/24]
Contractor explains EOT application for Penang’s Gurney Bay project – [28/05/24]
“A construction company has come forward to explain a statement made by a Penang state executive councillor over the development of Phase One of the Gurney Bay project.”
Gurney Bay contractor fined RM1.6 million over delays – [27/05/24]
No 69-storey building in Gurney Bay project, says H’ng – [09/05/24]
“The Penang government has assured that no high-rise residential and hotel projects will be built inside Gurney Bay.
This came after a viral posting on social media recently, questioning if the northern part of the Gurney Bay project on reclaimed land would soon have a 69-storey high building.”
Penang’s long awaited Gurney Bay greeted with flak from former CM – [05/02/24]
“Chow Kon Yeow responds to Lim Guan Eng’s criticisms, saying that the contractor is bound to a two-year liability period.”
Guan Eng queries Gurney Bay project’s shoddy work quality – [05/02/24]
Phase one of Gurney Bay now open to public – [04/02/24]
“Phase one of the new Gurney Bay is now open to the public, following an announcement made by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.”
2023
Penang CM: State govt mulls introducing theme park in Gurney Bay – [30/11/23]
“The Penang state government is considering proposals to introduce additional commercial activities in Gurney Bay such as the Eye of Penang, Viewing Tower, floating ferry, Ferris wheel and theme parks, Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow revealed in the state legislative assembly today.”
Gurney Wharf is now officially called Gurney Bay – [26/05/23]
“Formerly known as Gurney Wharf, the Gurney Bay project is a Penang government initiative introduced for the benefit of fellow Penangites.”
Phase One of Gurney Wharf project ready in May – [14/02/23]
2022
Penang expects to open part of RM200m Gurney Wharf next year, whole project to complete by 2025 – [14/05/22]
“The estimated RM200 million Gurney Wharf project covering about 131 acres of reclaimed land will be fully completed by early 2025, said Chow Kon Yeow.”
RM200mil Gurney Drive ‘beach’ project launched – [14/05/22]
“The man-made beach and green park at the waterfront project, on reclaimed land, are set to give Penang’s famed Gurney Drive area a whole new look.”
Local company wins tender for Gurney Wharf mega project – [14/05/22]
“Local engineering construction company has been chosen as the main contractor for state mega project Gurney Wharf.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the company Teto Engineering Sdn Bhd has been chosen through an open tender after being evaluated thoroughly by state government officials.”
Penang CM urged to disclose plans for reclaimed Gurney Drive – [15/01/22]
“The Penang government must come clean on its plans for all components of the reclaimed Gurney Drive.
Gerakan national vice-president Datuk Baljit Singh said the people of Penang had yet to receive a satisfactory response on what the state government planned to do on the land that was reclaimed by property developer Eastern & Oriental Bhd and ceded to the state.”
2021
Construction work on Gurney Wharf project to start end of 2021 – [18/09/21]
“The State Housing, Local Government, and Town and Country Planning Committee chairman said today that reclamation works for the project spanning 53 hectares had been completed.”
Phase one of RM176m Gurney Wharf open to public next year, says Penang exco – [19/03/21]
“The Penang housing, local government and town and country planning committee chairman said phase one of the public park will be ready in about a year’s time and open tender for the public park will be called by June this year.”
2020
Penang’s Gurney Wharf to feature park, promenade, food courts – [21/12/20]
Penang CM: 50 acres reclaimed land off Gurney Drive meant for development, 40 acres for park – [21/12/20]
“A total of 50 acres of the reclaimed land off Gurney Drive will be set aside for future development projects while 40 acres is for the planned Gurney Wharf project, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said today.”
Gurney Wharf expected to be completed by Aug, 2021 – [02/02/20]
2019
Reclamation works for Gurney wharf project to be completed in September – [21/07/19]
2018
Penang planning to transform Gurney Drive into a must-see attraction – [04/10/18]
“Gurney Wharf, a world class “park-on-the-sea”, is going to be even better than initially planned.
The state government is planning to transform the place into “the pride of Penangites” with seaside retail outlets, F&B aplenty, water gardens, and beach and coastal grove on the 24.28ha plot of reclaimed land.”
2017
Penang government told to come clean on RM9bil state funds pumped into development project – [03/10/17]
“The Barisan Nasional Strategic Communications (BNSC) team has demanded that the state government come clean as to why a private property developer has a stake in a RM15 billion project and not state-owned Penang Development Corp (PDC).
BNSC deputy director Datuk Eric See-To Choong said questions are being raised with many asking why the state government had not allowed the PDC to have a stake in the Wellness City of Dreams project, especially since the project is being built on state land.”
Penang Gerakan decries application under FOI rejected – [13/04/17]
“The Penang government has rejected a Gerakan Youth leader’s applications for three reclamation agreements under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Enactment.
State Gerakan acting Youth chief Jason Loo applied for the documents on March 14 following a dispute in figures involving reclamation of Seri Tanjong Pinang 1 (STP1),2 (STP2) and Gurney Wharf.”
⋅
2016
Farewell to the Gurney Drive we knew and loved – [18/06/16]
Mega project plans for reclaimed Gurney Drive – [09/03/16]
“Two hotels, a mall, business centre and a host of wellness related suites and apartments are expected to take shape on a portion of the reclaimed Gurney Drive. Business Times understands that the proposed projects will be sited on some 20.2ha of land located between the sea-fronting promenade and Bandar Tanjung Pinang, which is part of Ewein Zenith Sdn Bhd’s “Wellness City of Dreams” development.”
Why the silence of Gurney Wharf? – [07/03/16]
Eight-lane highway planned between Gurney Drive and Gurney Wharf – [06/03/16]
“A little known eight-lane highway has been planned inside the 131 acres of land to be reclaimed along the Gurney Drive coastline for the Gurney Wharf project.”
CAP says Gurney Wharf would cause devastating environmental impact – [25/02/16]
Gurney Drive reclamation work to start next month – [24/02/16]
“Lifestyle property developer Eastern and Oriental Bhd (E&O) will start reclamation works on phase 1 of the Gurney Wharf waterfront public recreation project near Gurney Drive here next month, with completion targeted for mid-2018.”
Penang to get ‘artificial beach’ at Gurney Drive – [23/02/16]
“By mid-2018, Penangites are expected to see Gurney Drive transform into a world-class Gurney Wharf which the state government hopes would be akin to Fishermen’s Wharf in San Francisco and Canary Wharf in London.”
Gurney Wharf, Penang’s new waterfront park-in-the-city – [23/02/16]
“The proposed Gurney Wharf concept masterplan is divided into four areas that will feature a seaside retail food and beverage area, water gardens, a man-made beach and a coastal grove.”
Penang unveils plans for new Gurney Wharf waterfront – [23/02/16]
“The Penang government today unveiled plans for a new seafront public park at its popular Gurney Drive, to be known as Gurney Wharf.
Spanning close to 60 acres, Gurney Wharf will be created on land to be reclaimed by Tanjung Pinang Development Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of property developer Eastern & Oriental Bhd.”
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