Cantonese immigrants from Guangdong province established the Ghee Hin secret society during the 1790s after arriving in Penang. This brotherhood inducted members through blood oaths and grew to over 20,000 participants before authorities banned secret societies in 1890. The group founded Ng Fook Thong temple in 1819 as their gathering place and dispute resolution center. Members created the first Chinese school in Malaya at their Church Street headquarters. The organization formally registered as the Ng Fook Thong Cantonese Districts Association in 1844.
After dissolution, former members constructed the current temple on Chulia Street between 1895 and 1898 using craftsmen from Fook San, China. The structure displays traditional Cantonese architecture with carved columns and ancestral tablets dating back two centuries. Unlike conventional temples, the main altar honors deceased members rather than housing resident deities. The building underwent major renovations in 1901, 1956, 1986, and 2017 to address structural issues and termite damage. George Town World Heritage Incorporated provided restoration funding worth RM185,000 in 2024.
After dissolution, former members constructed the current temple on Chulia Street between 1895 and 1898 using craftsmen from Fook San, China. The structure displays traditional Cantonese architecture with carved columns and ancestral tablets dating back two centuries. Unlike conventional temples, the main altar honors deceased members rather than housing resident deities. The building underwent major renovations in 1901, 1956, 1986, and 2017 to address structural issues and termite damage. George Town World Heritage Incorporated provided restoration funding worth RM185,000 in 2024.
