George Town Dispensary, George Town

Located on Beach Street within George Town's UNESCO World Heritage Site, this three-storey building, completed in 1923, attests to the architectural legacy of Singapore-based firm Swan & Maclaren. Originally, it served as the premises for the George Town Dispensary and George Town Chambers.

In the late 19th century, the local Dispensary, founded by an Armenian physician in 1886, emerged as a prominent establishment in the area. Offering a range of services including wholesale and retail of chemists and druggists' supplies, the business grew rapidly, prompting its relocation to this newly constructed building upon its completion.

Featuring a distinctive pediment that marks its main entrance facing the junction of Beach Street and China Street Ghaut, the building also includes a five-foot way along its Beach Street side, providing access to the dispensary. The first floor housed consultation rooms for physicians, along with shared waiting areas and laboratories. Access to these facilities was facilitated by a staircase on the China Street Ghaut side, which also accommodated professional offices for lawyers, doctors, and architects under the banner of the George Town Chambers.

Surviving the tumultuous events of the Second World War and subsequent periods of unrest, the George Town Dispensary Ltd. remained operational until the 1980s when it was acquired by another entity. Today, its successor, George Town Pharmacy Sdn. Bhd., continues to retain its position as a prominent pharmaceutical company in Penang, with nine branches across the island.