The 40 Firsts in Taiping

photo from taipingtalk.com

While my recent post is about Taiping, let me show you what I found in the Wikipedia. The 40 Firsts in Taiping. So, that explains why my Hubby always talk about the oldest this and that in his own beloved hometown. I'll have to take note of this list and be sure to visit some of the places mentioned here.

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Due to the booming tin-mining industry in the 19th century and its previous position as capital of Perak, Taiping is the pioneer in many fields achieving many 'firsts' in the country. The list given by Taiping Municipal Council records a total of 40 firsts in the country under Taiping's belt. Dated as early as 1844, these firsts are either in monuments or events.

• Open tin mining activity in the peninsula (1844)
• Hill resort - Maxwell Hill (1844)
• Swimming pool - Coronation Swimming Pool (1870)
• Mosque - Masjid Tengku Menteri (1870)
• Rest house (1870)
• Artillery warehouse (1870)
• Magistrate court (1874)
• Balai penghulu (1875)
• Resident's house (1877)
• Port - Port Weld (1877)
• English school - Central School Kamunting (1878)
• Police force (1879)
• Government offices (1879)
• Post and telegraph office (1880)
• Lake gardens - Taiping Lake Gardens (1880)
• Taiping General Hospital, private and government (1880)
• Club - New Club (1880)
• Club - Perak Club
• Railway station and warehouse (1881)
• Museum - Perak Museum (1883)
• Market building - Taiping Markets (1884)
• Prison - Taiping Gaol(1885)
• Railway track - from Port Weld to Taiping (1885)
• Turf club - Perak Turf Club (1886)
• Anglican church - All Saints Church, Taiping (1886)
• English girl's school - Treacher Methodist Girls' School (1889)
• Clock tower - Taiping Clock Tower (1890)
• Esplanade - Esplanade (1890)
• Malay newspaper - Seri Perak (June 1893)
• English newspaper - Perak Pioneer (July 4, 1894)
• Tamil newspaper - Perak Verthamani (1894)
• Armed Forces - Malay States Guides (1896)
• Teaching college - Maktab Perguruan Melayu
• Ceylon association (1899)
• Punjabi association - Khalsa Diwan Malaya Association (1903)
• Indian association (1906)
• Recreation park - Coronation Park (1920s)
• Airfield - Tekah Airport (1930)
• Golf course (some claimed in Southeast Asia)
• Library - Perpustakaan Merdeka
• Fire brigade