Hin Bus Depot
Last updated: October 2026
Hin Bus Depot is a former bus garage on Jalan Gurdwara, on the southern edge of George Town's heritage core, that has become one of Penang's busiest creative spaces. The Art Deco depot where the Hin Company's blue buses were once parked and repaired now holds an exhibition gallery, artist studios, a lawn and open yard covered in murals, cafes, bars and small design shops, and on weekends the Hin Market, a craft and food market that draws locals as much as visitors. Entry to the compound is free.
This guide covers the depot's history, what to see, market days and opening hours (checked October 2026), how to get there and tips for visiting.
| Address | 31A Jalan Gurdwara, George Town |
|---|---|
| Details | Public areas daily 10 am – 10 pm; exhibitions Mon–Fri 12 – 7 pm, Sat–Sun 10 am – 7 pm; Hin Market Fri 12 – 7 pm, Sat–Sun 10 am – 5 pm Free entry |
| Area | George Town |
| Typical visit | About 1 h |
| Listed in | Penang Attractions |
| Take me here | |
| Verified | Verified October 2026 |
History of Hin Bus Depot
The blue buses of Hin Company
After the Second World War, as part of the colonial government's efforts to get George Town moving again, Hin Company Ltd was granted a motorbus licence. In 1947 it built this depot on what was then Brick Kiln Road (now Jalan Gurdwara) to house and maintain its fleet. Hin's blue buses became a familiar sight on the island's north-west routes, running from Prangin in the city centre out to Tanjung Bunga and along the western coast road to Teluk Bahang.
The depot was built in the Art Deco style that was fashionable for commercial buildings at the time, and it was said to be the most stylish bus depot in Penang in its heyday in the 1970s. In 1973 Hin Company was absorbed by Koperasi Gabungan Negeri, becoming KGN Hin Co, and in 2000 the business was acquired by the SJA Group. The depot itself closed in 1999, and the blue buses stopped running in the early 2000s.
From empty garage to arts centre
The building stood empty and run down for about a decade. In 2010 the property was bought by a company owned by three families. The turning point came when the street artist Ernest Zacharevic, known for his murals in George Town, was looking for a venue for his first solo exhibition. The depot was cleaned up for the show, and Art Is Rubbish Is Art opened on 17 January 2014, filling the old garage with installations made from discarded objects. The exhibition's success persuaded the owner, Tan Shih Thoe, to keep the space going as an arts venue rather than redevelop it.
A weekly market followed in 2015, when Tan invited vendors he knew to sell their products in the compound. Over the next decade the site grew to cover more than 60,000 square feet, taking in eight shophouses along Jalan Gurdwara and three facing Jalan Kampung Jawa Lama. Renovation has been kept light, so the bare walls, old roof trusses and open yard of the depot are still easy to read. Hin Bus Depot marked its tenth anniversary in 2024 and the Hin Market its tenth in 2025.
What to See and Do at Hin Bus Depot
- The gallery: the main exhibition space shows changing exhibitions of contemporary art, photography and design, often by Malaysian and regional artists. Shows change every few weeks, so check the depot's Instagram or website before you go.
- Murals and the yard: the open-air yard, mural garden and lawn are covered with large wall paintings by local and visiting street artists. They are repainted from time to time, so what you see will differ from older photos.
- Hin Market: on weekends the compound fills with stalls selling handmade crafts, prints, vintage clothing, plants, coffee and street food, often with live music. Different organisers run themed markets on different days, such as makers' markets, collectors' markets and community markets.
- Cafes, bars and shops: the shophouses around the depot hold a changing mix of cafes, bars, restaurants, a yoga studio, salons and independent design and craft shops. Each keeps its own hours.
- Workshops and events: the depot hosts workshops, talks, film screenings, gigs and events, and its residency programme brings artists to work on site.
Hin Bus Depot Opening Hours, Market Days and Entry
- Entry: free.
- Public areas: daily 10 am to 10 pm; individual cafes, bars and shops set their own hours.
- Exhibitions: Monday to Friday 12 pm to 7 pm, Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 7 pm, when a show is running.
- Hin Market: Friday 12 pm to 7 pm, and Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 5 pm. The official market page lists Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 5 pm; Friday markets are run by a separate organiser, so check its Instagram before a Friday visit.
- Time needed: about an hour for the gallery and murals; two to three hours if you are browsing the market and stopping for food.
How to Get to Hin Bus Depot
- Address: 31A Jalan Gurdwara, George Town, near the junction with Jalan Kampung Jawa Lama.
- On foot: about 10 minutes from KOMTAR and the Prangin Mall area, and roughly 15 to 20 minutes from the centre of the heritage zone around Lebuh Chulia.
- Bus: the KOMTAR bus terminal, the main hub for Rapid Penang routes across the island, is the nearest major stop.
- Grab or taxi: ask for "Hin Bus Depot, Jalan Gurdwara". A ride from the heritage core usually takes under 10 minutes.
- Car: street parking around Jalan Gurdwara is limited at weekends; the multi-storey car parks around KOMTAR are the easier option.
Tips for Visiting
- Come on a weekend morning if you want the market, ideally before midday, when it is cooler and less crowded.
- Much of the space is outdoors and only partly shaded. Bring a hat and water in the afternoon, and expect stalls to pack up early if it rains.
- Many market stalls take e-wallets, but carry some cash for smaller vendors.
- Photography of the murals is welcome; ask before photographing stallholders or their products.
- Pair the visit with The TOP at KOMTAR in the late afternoon, or walk on to the heritage zone for dinner.
- The ground-level spaces are mostly flat and step-free, but surfaces in the yard are uneven in places.
Hin Bus Depot Location
Nearby
- Au Jardin — Restaurant, 0.0 km away
- New Lane Hawker Centre — Hawker food, 0.1 km away
- Wadda Gurdwara Sahib — Temple, 0.1 km away
- No Bar Here — Bar, 0.1 km away
- Backdoor Bodega — Bar, 0.2 km away
- Good Friends Club — Bar, 0.2 km away
Plan a route with opening times using the Where2Go trip planner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hin Bus Depot free to enter?
Yes. Entry to the compound, the murals and the gallery is free. You only pay for food, drinks and anything you buy at the shops or market stalls.
When is Hin Market at Hin Bus Depot?
The official Hin Market page lists Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm. A separate Friday market has also run from 12 pm to 7 pm; check the organisers' Instagram before a Friday visit.
What was Hin Bus Depot originally?
It was built in 1947 by Hin Company Ltd as the depot for its blue buses, which ran from Prangin to Tanjung Bunga and Teluk Bahang. The depot closed in 1999 and reopened as an arts space in 2014.
Who painted the art at Hin Bus Depot?
The arts centre began with Ernest Zacharevic's solo exhibition Art Is Rubbish Is Art in January 2014. Since then the walls have been painted by many local and visiting artists, and the murals change over time.
How do I get to Hin Bus Depot from KOMTAR?
Hin Bus Depot is about a 10-minute walk from KOMTAR, on Jalan Gurdwara. A Grab ride from anywhere in central George Town takes under 10 minutes.