The tiny silhouettes of fishermen in their sampan, with their nets filled with catches of the day, could be seen rocking gently alongside the glimmering waves.

This was a sight at Gurney Drive that only a few can claim to have seen, as the days of roadside fishermen sellers and white beaches filled with sparkling shells are now buried under 131 acres of stone-cold concrete and reclaimed land.

Set to be completed by 2023 at an estimated whopping RM176 million, the rise of Gurney Wharf has inevitably led to the disappearance of Gurney Drive’s rich past.

FMT recently spoke to locals about their memories of an untouched Gurney Drive, which many still hold close to their hearts.

“It was so relaxing back then, riding my motorbike down and feeling the sea breeze. I used to pass time by picking up beautiful shells by the beach,” said Sim Guek Liang, 73.

Sim proceeded to show off her extensive shell collection and recalled picking them up at Gurney as if it was just yesterday.

“My son used to love watching fishermen fill their nets with strange crabs and fish,” said Sim.

Sim went on to talk about how it was strange that fishermen back then used to release their catches of horseshoe crabs back to the sea. She explained that this was because, at that time, they were deemed inedible.

However, horseshoe crabs eventually turned into a must-have dish commonly found at most seafood restaurants today.

Besides the subtle scent of the sea, blends of local aromas used to fill the air at Gurney Drive’s sidewalk.

Apart from its ideal location next to the beach, Gurney Drive was and still is known for its food scene.

But before the establishment of its permanent food court back in the 1970s, pioneers of the hawker business and their moving kitchens used to serve customers facing the sparkling seas of Gurney Drive.

Food stalls on wheels, round metallic tables and tiny chairs used to cram Gurney Drive – stretched like a bullet train down the sidewalk.

Both day and night vendors would roll their carts and line them up starting from Gurney’s roundabout up until the sidewalk where G Hotel currently stands.

With an assortment of stalls from pasembur to rojak that only cost 50 sen, vendors dished out their local specialties.

Saw Wee Lan, who is part of the hawker world, was nine when her father sold cuttlefish salad or better known as “Jiu Hu Eng Chai” at Gurney Drive’s original hawker joint from his roadside cart.

Now 40 years old, Saw described her after school memories as being filled with days of playing by the clean seas and digging up snails with the children of other hawker owners, while her father tended to his cuttlefish and hungry customers.

Saw recalled a strong bond within the community of hawkers back then.

With no sections and racial groupings between stalls, neighbouring cart owners may have come from different backgrounds and cultures, but they still interacted frequently with one another and treated each other like family.

Most people remember Gurney Drive for its relaxing atmosphere, but there are a handful of others like 54-year-old Lee Wei Koon who remember it for its fantastic events.

Besides the thrill-filled International Dragon Boat Race that was organised at the seas near Gurney Drive, Penang’s first-ever triathlon took place on those waters as well.

Lee took a dive back in time and vividly described a moment he witnessed during said triathlon back in the 1980s.

“I remember looking at a guy who was all muddy as he emerged from the sea and started running,” laughed a wide-eyed Lee, who explained that it was shocking to see swimmers come out of the sea and approach land completely covered in mud.

Unlike traditional triathlons, contestants in Penang’s first triathlon had to walk in approximately 200 metres of thick mud before they reached swimmable waters, as Gurney Drive back then was extremely muddy.

Muddy racers aside, Lee admitted that the moment at Gurney Drive was impactful, as it inspired him to begin his triathlon journey at the age of 19.

Lee completed his first triathlon in 1986, and the passion for it has been a huge part of his life ever since.

These are only a few cherished memories shared by those who have witnessed Gurney Drive during its glory days.

But what was once a beloved spot will eventually turn into a waterfront park and many Penangites shared the same emotional response when they first learned of this plan.

Despite how beautiful the new Gurney Wharf may turn out to be in 2023, memories of Gurney Drive and what it used to be will be etched in the hearts of many.

Unfortunately, memories alone – however treasured they may be – cannot withstand the onslaught of development, and we must now bid the fondest of goodbyes to the old Gurney Drive.