1960′s Aerial View of Old Town, A Green and Pleasant Place
This divided back, unused, card from Airfoto is centred on the Perak State Mosque with the Railway Station clearly visible between it and the limestone hills which form the backdrop against a brilliant blue sky.
The amazing thing about this picture is just what a beautiful and green city Ipoh was in the 1960′s. In every direction from the mosque there can be seen grassy spaces and an abundance of trees. Take for example the Birch Memorial Clock tower just to the right of the mosque. It stands surrounded by nature’s greenery, open to view and a magnificent memorial to the first British Resident of Perak who was murdered by the Malays. Whatever your politics or your opinion of J W W Birch there is no doubt that this environment was far superior to today’s, hemmed in as the clock tower is by a scruffy food centre that replaced the trees (behind which the old Post Office nestled) and surrounded by hard landscaping and litter rather than well tended grass.
But not only the clock tower’s environment has worsened but a comparison against today’s Ipoh also demonstrates that there has been a general decline in the environment across the City. How on earth did we, the citizens of Ipoh allow this?
What a beautiful place Ipoh used to be.
I agree. Ipoh used to be a lovely green beautiful place, especially in the above photo. I know. Because I live in the vicinity of Hale Street. I just returned from an overnight trip to Ipoh last week & was saddened by the sights I saw, from the Railway Station, Clock Tower & all the way to Leech Street & more; clock tower surrounded by awful looking stalls & the clock tower is now painted in an awful colour with black “outlines”; trees are gone; buildings run down; they are digging up the garden in front of the railway station; I missed the Indian food stalls underneath the huge trees at the old post office. Generally, old & new town is just run down & oh so deserted. I walked the streets as if I owe them!! Even the Kinta River dykes are not left alone – barriers are up! and to think I used to play on the swings on these very dykes (& those in the Ipoh padang)- how carefree then. What has happened? It has become once again, a by-pass town, like it was before? As Dr Ho Tat Ming said in his book, Ipoh – When Tin Was King.
So neat – so beautiful – so loved. And now? Ipoh should be ashamed.
I fell in love with Ipoh on my first visit with a school trip in the 80′s when I was a 13 years old girl. On entering Kinta Valley, I was fascinated by the enclosing hills that I promised myself this is the place I will live when I grow older.Over the years I never forget Ipoh hills. It is only 15 years later that I came to Ipoh again, this time with my husband, who is from Kampar. We are retired now, three children and grand-children and I am thankful to god for answering my prayers.