Penang’s debt of gratitude to British waterworks engineer

Fettes worked himself to an early grave overseeing construction of Guillemard Reservoir

OVER a century ago there was a proposal to build a reservoir, which would have flooded a large area of Jalan Kebun Bunga and submerged the whole of Penang Botanic Gardens.

The proposal came from then Penang Municipal Commission engineer Leonard Moore Bell and was presented by its waterworks engineer James Dollery Fettes.

The present Pearl Hill and Mount Olivia were offered as a replacement but the proposal did not come to fruition.

Instead, the Guillemard Reservoir was built at the Vale of Tempe or Chui Tee Lor (Reservoir Road in Hokkien).

These “little known” historical details were made known by independent researcher Eugene Quah to 28 individuals whose visit to the reservoir was specially arranged with Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) by the Penang Heritage Trust (PHT).

Fettes oversaw the construction of the reservoir named after Sir Laurence Nunns Guillemard, who was the Governor of the Straits Settlements at the time.

Quah (in black) explaining the history of the reservoir. The Moghul-inspired domed recorder houses can be seen in the background.

Quah said Penang, which was Britain’s first settlement in the Malay Peninsula, had been fortunate to possess an ample supply of water.

“Fettes remarked that ‘Penang water is of a very high quality chemically’ and the Penang Hill range served as a superb catchment area, nourishing the streams and rivers.

“The reservoir pools have always been viewed as spectacles-shaped by locals, who called it bak kia tee, but Fettes described it as two horseshoes,” Quah told the group who also viewed the Mughal-inspired domed recorder houses designed by Fettes himself.

Preliminary survey work on the proposed reservoir commenced in 1923 and was completed in August 1924.

Construction was then undertaken and the reservoir was opened in 1929.

Off limits to public

Quah said the reservoir was now a secure area guarded round-the-clock, but previously it was opened to the public and there was even a wading pool (which is now a flower bed) within the grounds for visitors to dip their feet in and play in the water.

“To enter, all visitors would pass beneath an elegant stone bridge, also designed by Fettes.

“In the past, this picturesque reservoir compound was a popular public park and a must-visit tourist attraction.

“However, it was made a restricted area due to national security reasons during the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation in the 1960s.

“The decision to close it to the public has never been rescinded.

“The closure has deprived people of the opportunity to experience its charm,” said Quah.

Off-limits: Guillemard Reservoir in Vale of Tempe is closed to the public but Penang Water Supply Corporation allowed a small group to visit. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star

“The beautiful bridge and twin reservoirs at the summit attracted numerous visitors in its heyday,” he added.

Fettes’ contribution had ensured a reliable water supply and made the state drought resilient for many decades.

In recognition of his contributions, Medan Fettes, Fettes Road and Fettes Park in Penang were named after him.

In an article published in a local magazine, Quah wrote that municipal commissioners president Gordon Lupton Ham had extended an invitation to Sir Hugh Clifford, who was the governor of the Straits Settlements, to perform the official opening of the waterworks on July 16, 1929.Clifford had said: “This morning, I had the privilege of going over the works in some detail with Mr Fettes, and I have been greatly impressed by the value of the service he has rendered to the municipality of Penang.”

According to Quah’s article, Ham had earlier revealed that Fettes had not taken any home leave since the project began.

“I take my hat off to you Mr Fettes, who has been working six years in order to carry through for the people of Penang a very important work.

Visitors at the stone bridge leading to the Guillemard Reservoir.

“I am here to declare this reservoir open, to christen it in the name of my predecessor, Sir Laurence Guillemard, by whose name it will always be known.

“I now formally declare open and give to it the name of Guillemard Reservoir,” Clifford had announced.

After the opening of the reservoir, Fettes was finally able to take his long-awaited home leave.

In November 1929, he set off with his wife Margaret for Cardiff, Wales, where they owned a residence.

Initially planning to be away for only a year, Fettes extended his stay by an additional three months due to poor health.

On Feb 14, 1931, he passed away at the age of 51 in his home, leaving behind his wife and their only son, Peter.

Visitors having fun at the wading pool at the reservoir when it was still opened to the public. It is now a flower bed.

Those close to him attributed Fettes’ early demise to his tireless dedication to his work.

News of Fettes’ passing prompted certain municipal commissioners to consider acknowledging his exceptional service to the Penang municipality by granting a gratuity to his wife.

In an unprecedented move, they unanimously approved a payment of $15,000 to her during a special meeting, despite the challenging economic circumstances faced by the municipality at the time.

Today, at the St George’s Park Cemetery in Port Elizabeth (now known as Gqeberha), South Africa, one can find Fettes’ name engraved on his parents’ imposing pillar-like tombstone where the family’s motto “industria” is carved.

Fettes certainly led an industrious life serving the people of Penang.

Service to the state

Guillemard Reservoir has been supplying water to the Tanjung Bungah, Tanjong Tokong, Mount Erskine and Pulau Tikus areas in Penang.

The two pools with a depth of about 7m were created to increase water supply by tapping water from the Batu Ferringhi Valley.

PBAPP engineer KG Sreeviknesh said they had a capacity of 34.45 million litres, and the raw water was channelled from the Batu Ferringhi Aqueduct.

“If needed, water can also be channelled to the Bukit Dumbar Reservoir from here to the southern part of Penang island such as Bayan Baru and Bayan Lepas.

“The raw water is sourced from five intakes in Batu Ferringhi, which is part of a 1,197ha forest protected as water catchments.

“The twin pools are washed in turn once every five years,” he said when met at the reservoir during the PHT visit.

It was reported that raw water from the aqueduct, which is a heritage water supply installation, is channelled into the reservoir solely through force of gravity, eliminating the necessity for any pumping mechanism.

The aqueduct, measuring 6.05km in length, channels raw water to the Guillemard Water Treatment Plant in Tanjung Bungah.

At 111.3m above sea level on a tranquil hillock, the reservoir is still serving the people faithfully since being commissioned in 1929.

To learn more about Penang Heritage Trust’s work, go to www.facebook.com/PenangHeritage