The Esplanade was originally laid out in 1890 as the Parade Square and was used and marching and procession grounds by the then Perak Armed Police. It was commissioned by a Lt. Col. Robert Sandilands Frowd Walker, a key figure in the history of Taiping. A statue of Walker is still standing in the grounds of the nearby Perak State Museum. The Esplanade is surrounded by various historical buildings. – A whitewashed mansion which once served as the British Officers Mess and is still used by the Malaysian Army today. – A guardhouse for the barracks of the Malay States Guides.
– The New Club dates from 1894 and is a members only club. – Nearby All Saints Church which was the first Anglican Church to be consecrated in the Federated Malay States in 1887.
– A top a nearby small hill (Jelatong Hill) sits a fine house built in 1875 as the official residence of the Secretary to The Resident. It is now the District Officer’s residence.
