. The first
clove and
nutmeg plantations in Balik Pulau were set up by the
British East India Company in 1794. During the early years of
Company rule on
Penang Island (then the
Prince of Wales Island), spice cultivation was encouraged as a means to cover the administrative costs of the island. The British also intended to turn the
Prince of Wales Island into a centre for spice production in
Southeast Asia in order to break the Dutch monopoly of the spice trade at the time. During the first half of the 19th century, the clove and nutmeg farms of Balik Pulau attracted Malay refugees fleeing the
Siamese invasion of Kedah, as well as Chinese immigrants who were then employed at the farms. The centre of Balik Pulau, also known colloquially as
Kongsi (meaning 'to share' in
Malay), was apparently named after the communal wooden longhouses that once existed within the area. Residents of various ethnicities, who worked at the plantations surrounding Balik Pulau, resided in these longhouses, hence the name. Balik Pulau developed towards the late 19th century with the addition of banks, schools, shops and a colonial fountain, which was erected in the late 19th century by a local Chinese businessman, Koh Seang Tat. For much of its history, Balik Pulau has been a quiet agricultural town, in stark contrast to the bustling
city centre at the eastern side of Penang Island. As agriculture does not feature prominently in Penang's economy, Balik Pulau is said to have the last remaining
paddy fields in all of George Town. On the other hand, the spillover of urbanisation from the eastern seaboard of the city is also gathering pace in Balik Pulau, with residential properties are being planned for the suburb in recent years. ==Geography==