Overview

The mansion stands out as an eclectic two story early Straits bungalow within a walled compound at the junction of Lebuh Armenian and Lebuh Acheh. Recently restored in a government-funded pilot project, it is in the process of being converted into a state Islamic museum. Before restoration it was occupied by Indian chettiar scrap dealers and used as a collection yard. Syed Mohd Alatas was a wealthy Achehnese merchant of Arab descent who traded between Penang and Acheh. He was instrumental in smuggling arms to the Achehnese resistance after the Dutch invaded Acheh in early 1870s.