 During the first half of the 19th century, the clove and nutmeg farms of Balik Pulau attracted Malay refugees fleeing the Siamese invasion of Kedah, as well as Chinese immigrants who were then employed at the farms.The town centre, also known colloquially as "'Kongsi"' (meaning 'to share' in Malay), was apparently named after the communal wooden longhouses that once existed within the heart of Balik Pulau.Residents of various ethnicities, who worked at the plantations surrounding Balik Pulau, resided in these longhouses, hence the name.