St. Xavier's Institution, George Town

Saint Xavier's Institution (SXI) in Penang holds a distinguished place in Malaysia's educational landscape, tracing its roots back to 1787, soon after the founding of George Town by Captain Francis Light. Initially established as a Malay school by Bishop Arnaud-Antoine Garnault, the institution evolved over the years, eventually becoming known as the Catholic Free School. In 1852, it came under the administration of the De La Salle Brothers (officially named the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools) and was renamed in honor of Francis Xavier, a Spanish Catholic missionary who is revered to this day for his extensive missions in Asia during the 16th century.

The school's relocation to its present grounds at Farquhar Street occurred in 1858; however, during the tumultuous period of the Second World War, the building faced destruction when it was repurposed as a Marine barracks by the Imperial Japanese Navy and subsequently bombed by American forces. With the main building wiped out, a new one, visible today, was completed in 1954.

Throughout its long history, Saint Xavier's Institution has remained committed to providing a well-rounded education that encompasses both academic pursuits and extracurricular activities. A strong emphasis is placed on character development, encouraging students to excel not only in their studies but also in sports, arts, and community engagement.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in George Town. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: St. Xavier's Institution
Sight Location: George Town, Malaysia (See walking tours in George Town)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Farquhar Street Walking Tour

Walking Tours in George Town, Malaysia

Create Your Own Walk in George Town

Creating your own self-guided walk in George Town is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

George Town Introduction Walking Tour

Some felt in Malaya that the city of George Town should be renamed Tanjung Penaga ("Cape Penaga"). That was the name of the area where George Town now stands. But the Chinese, British, Muslim, Malay and Indian movers and shakers of the town wisely declined. It might be bad for business.

Captain Francis Light, R. N., came to Tanjung Penaga in 1786. He wanted to set up an entrep么t for... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles

George Town's Historical Religious Buildings

George Town, Malaysia, has much to be proud of when it comes to religious heritage. The city boasts a plethora of wonderful churches, temples, mosques, and other religious sites 鈥� each beautifully decorated and with its own unique story. Follow us on this self-guided walk and see some of them up close.

We start at the Acheen Street Mosque. Dating back to the early 19th century, this is one of... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles

Farquhar Street Walking Tour

Farquhar Street, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2008, is a culturally rich thoroughfare in George Town, Malaysia, and home to many interesting historic properties. Let's take a brief journey down this storied street and see what they are.

At the outset of Farquhar stands the impressive Supreme Court building, a symbol of justice and governance in Penang. Just a stone's throw away,... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles

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