Jon's Reflections

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Reflections :

a) Initially, when I heard about the heritage trail I was in dismay. Singapore to me, at that point of time, was just a small country without much culture and even less heritage.  To spend one full afternoon going to “random” sites of Singapore supposed history was unbearable to me.  This was because I felt that Singapore History had little to do with me. The heritage trail changed my thinking completely, allowing me to better appreciate our forefathers who helped Singapore become what it is today, in the process teaching me that Singapore history is highly relevant to me.

Tan Kim Seng fountain was particularly instrumental to me in changing my perspective on Singapore history and culture heritage. The fountain was built was to celebrate the man’s contribution in constructing Singapore’s first public water works.  This made me come to the conclusion  that I have taken the many amenities that Singapore has for granted, not realizing how much effort was put in to build them. This made me understand that  we - as individuals- cannot separate ourselves from the history of Singapore as our comfortable life now is an accumulation of the contributions of people such as Tan Kim Seng.

All in all, the heritage trail has opened up my eyes to the relevance of Singapore History in my life. More importantly as a teacher to be, it made me realize that I need to prevent my future students from falling into the same trap I did. This is in particularly so in this age of globalisation where many will take things for granted.

b) Throughout the trail, I realized that the Singapore government has set out to preserve many of these important sites. Renovating the buildings as well as giving them landmark status are ways they did this. With these efforts, the  government  has indeed accomplish physically preserving our heritage .

However, it also made me ponder if physical preservation is really enough to keep our heritage intact.  While the government has indeed done it's part in the physical preservation aspect, Singaporeans have little regard towards these sites, having little or no emotional ties to these places.  With many of these sites also being tourist attractions, it makes me wonder if the preservation was really to highlight our unique heritage or just another way to keep the nation economically competitive, by making us much more than just another modern city.

More importantly ,many Singaporeans are ignorant of the cultural significance of these buildings  to our history. This is best illustrated in the vandalism case a few years back on the Cenotaph.  This complete disrespect to the site made me realize that physical preservation is indeed not enough and future generations need to be able to draw an emotional connection to ensure our heritage does not go extinct.

I feel that we as future history teachers are in the best position to do this as we will be educating many future generations. If we are not careful, these areas could become nothing more than hollowed out areas , which are little more than tourist attraction .. 

Grace's Reflection

a. How has your experience of the trail changed your perception of Singapore history and her cultural heritage?

In all honesty, I really didn’t know much about the sites we were supposed to visit. Before our little excursion, I looked through the list and realized that I had only visited 3 out of the 17 sites started in the Civic District Trail. In fact, I asked my Dad where certain locations were, he shrugged and referred me to Google Maps. (Yes, we are a full Singaporean family who was born and bred in Singapore since birth.) Embarking and completing the trail, therefore, was an especially eye-opening experience for me.

The sites (except for the Dalhousie Obelisk, perhaps) captured Singapore’s valuable historical structures and highlighted the key figures of Singapore’s history.

I found the Civilian War Memorial, or more fondly known as the chopsticks, particularly impressive. Just the stance of the tall white washed pillars extending up to the sky and the moat around it, casts such a majestic yet serene mood. It simply forces you to take a minute and think about the civilian lives lost during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore. It definitely serves as a very good reminder to all Singaporeans of the trials and sacrifices made by our forefathers during that period of our history.

b. How far is conservation and commercial reuse of historical sites in Singapore successful in preserving our historical heritage?

I do applaud the government's efforts in maintaining the external facades of the various historical sites. The fact that the Singapore government actually has a division called the Singapore Heritage board that is put in-charge to “tell the Singapore story” and the fact that most of the sites we visit were well preserved expresses the conservation efforts of the Singapore government. 

The governments refurnishing and converting of many "historical buidings" like the the Empress Place Building, for example,  to the Asian Civilization Museum, is an adaptive (commercial) reuse of the place. 

Many of the sites do reinforce this sense of “Singaporean-ness”, a sense of common identity belonging to Singapore, and to put Singapore forth as a civic and cultural hub. Definitely, the places which make to the list of "historical sites" to a certain extent reflect the history of Singapore to foreigners and locals alike. 

But I feel like there is a certain disconnect. The significance of many of the sites are difficult for me as a local to relate to and, personally, I think it is just a marketing spiel in hope to project Singapore as interesting and different.  

Personally, I feel that one of the key functions of preserving heritage is instilling a sense of emotional rootedness and belonging to the country. It is not just about declaring the places a national monument because it supports a political agenda, repaint the building, and expect people to magically see that, "Oh this is our home, I am a Singaporean, I want to fight and die for this country..." It just does not work that way. 

Neither is it about refurnishing the place and have some economic function map out for it. In fact, I feel that the successful commercial/adaptive reuse of the place has detracted from the true spirit of the place and distanced Singaporeans from it. For example, the historic district of Chinatown. Although it was, and still is, supposed to the be place where the local Chinese "connects to their roots/ethnicity", it has just morphed into a commercial tourist trap. It no longer caters to the need of the local population, but instead to the tourists, and to a certain extent the mainland Chinese migrant workers. 

In summary, I feel that despite conservation efforts and relatively successful commercial re-use of old historical sites, a I think more effort has to be done to preserve Singapore's historical heritage, connect the general public to their roots, and instil a sense of belonging to Singapore.

Cedric's Reflections

I was actually quite looking forward to embarking on this particular Heritage Trail as it was probably one area of Singapore that although I think many people frequent, not many realize that these monuments and memorials existed.

I shamefully have to admit that I myself am one of the few who did not know that some of the monuments were actually right in the middle of what we considered 'town'. An example would be how I had never known that the Esplanade Park was actually just behind the Esplanade Theatres On The Bay despite having gone there on a number of occasions. It was this realization that made me see just how little we might actually know of all these monuments and their significance.

Walking through the Heritage Trail made me notice how rich Singapore's history is in many ways and how lacking our knowledge is of the past. Prior to experiencing the trail for myself, I knew about the places such as the Old Supreme Court or the Civilian War Memorial but never really bothered to learn about its history. Yet there were places such as the Tan Kim Seng Fountain and the Dalhousie Obelisk that I had no idea existed in the first place! This has made me realize that even though the country has done well to commemorate these important people and events that are significant to in our history, not enough is being done to ensure that people understand its significance. Despite the knowledge that I have gained in school about our country's history, I now know that it is not enough to simply talk about them in class but rather, should take more vested interest in spreading the understanding of these memorials and monuments that provide a deeper insight into our past.

The efforts for the preservation of Singapore's historical sites are to be commended and the National Heritage Board (NHB) has done an amazing job of conservation many of the monuments. The modernization of the country has meant that some of these historical sites have had to undergo a makeover in recent years. The Arts House was a prime example, to me, of how a historical site can be commercialized and yet retain some parts of it, such as the Elephant Statue, that harks back to its historical roots.
However, I feel that some of the commercial reuse of historical sites, such as the Old Supreme Court, has caused it to lose meaning as it appears to be in the midst of becoming an art museum.

I feel that visiting the sites still invoke memories of our country's past and remains vital pieces of reminding people of the history of the nation. With that said, the effort of the government and the NHB cannot be the only thing done in preserving these monuments but rather, the onus also lies on us as citizens to remember and understand our history.

Cheryl's reflection

Throughout the heritage trail, I realised that all the stops are very significant to the Singapore's history and in my opinion, especially the political aspects of Singapore's growing up years. All of the monuments and buildings were present to witness many major milestones of Singapore's transformation. More than that, they are what Singapore and the pioneer batch remember the past with. Their importance lies in the memories that they are storing. Personally, it was a great experience despite the sun and all the walking because it forces me to think about how much Singapore had gone through over the years, from being a colonial country to the Japanese occupation and finally gaining independence.

I am thankful for the National Heritage Board for their efforts for preserving Singapore’s heritage. It allows interested parties the opportunities to imagine themselves of how life was in the past. I think the problems lies here, although these trails are readily available, does many people come on board this trail? To the older generation who they themselves had witness or know the stories, this trail serves as a reminder of what had happened. To the younger ones who knew this buildings and monuments only by name and not know the significance, this trail can become the storyteller that recounts the past to them. I think it is important that the younger generation be told of these for if not the purpose of these buildings and monuments will be lost. When that day comes, sooner or later, our children will tear them down for further redevelopments for tomthem, it does not have any meaning.

Therefore, I strongly believe that it should be a deliberate effort to keep our heritage alive and perhaps we could do more to ensure that happens. This is not restricted to just the National Heritage Board but every single Singaporean who treasures and appreciates how Singapore had since grown.

Eugenia's Reflection

                Although this may seem strange, I had actually looked forward to go on a heritage trail because I enjoyed exploring the many different (or perhaps, forgotten) places in Singapore. It is forgotten in a way because not many youths of today had been through the Japanese Occupation and other significant events in the past, thus, not knowing well enough about the history of different monuments, plaques or museums. Even if they have briefly learnt about the Japanese Occupation and other historical events, for instance, they may not know about the rationale for installing such historical markers at a specific location and the significance in doing so. I may be a history student but there are many things which I may not know in depth.

                This heritage trail is indeed an eye-opener for me and in retrospect, the different checkpoints gave me a deeper insight on Singapore’s history and more importantly, about its cultural heritage. Take, for instance, the Tan Kim Seng’s fountain. Frankly speaking, I have no idea who Tan Kim Seng was and what exactly his contributions were to Singapore prior to this heritage trail that our group embarked on. I only found out more about him and how significant his contributions were towards the building of the nation’s waterworks when I read about the brief inscription and doing research on him during my free time. In a way, his monetary contributions helped laid the foundation in setting up a proper network to supply freshwater to different parts of Singapore. It was his foresight in wanting to establish a proper public waterworks that ensured the nation’s survival and well-being. His legacy is still largely relevant today.

                Apart from that, there are also many interesting landmarks and monuments that piqued my curiosity and interest. It is certainly a good thing for Singapore to gazette buildings with a long history and construct monuments, museums or statues to commemorate certain events or important figures that contributed significantly to the nation. However, while it is important to establish such historical markers around in Singapore, there is a need for us to question and understand the rationale behind why certain places were being chosen to be gazetted as national monuments, why certain figures are deemed significant enough to be commemorated and perhaps, how they contributed to the nation building efforts in the past. In fact, the conservation efforts along the heritage trail in civic district can perhaps, be further improved on. There are many important historical sites that have been demolished or converted for “partial” commercialisation purposes. Commercialisation will perhaps defeat the efforts in preserving our historical heritage because the significance of it is somehow undermined. Nevertheless, it is still good to see that Singapore is doing something to preserve historical sites because they serve as a reminder of our past, our heritage and our traditions. In a way, we have not forgotten our past.

However, for us to commemorate our past, it should be and has to be a two-way effort by both Singaporeans and the government. The government can establish museums and other historical markers as a mean for commemoration but Singaporeans too, need to be proactive in understanding the rationale behind it and delve into it deeper. It is only through the collaborative efforts that will ensure the success in preserving and understanding our historical heritage. 

The Arts House (National Monument)

                Finally, we arrived at our last location, the Arts House! Yay! The afternoon heat was sweltering and increasingly unbearable. Thankfully, we took a quick respite in the fully air-conditioned Arts House and in the meantime, taking our time to explore the different rooms and the art exhibits along the Corridors of Time. It was especially fun to explore the Chamber and mimic what the members of parliament would do whenever they had parliamentary meetings. Heh heh heh… Sadly, we were not allowed to take photos in the Arts House and as such, we could not present to you the fun side of ours! Who says history students are dry and boring? We are hardworking students who learn and play at the same time! :P

                Here comes the fun facts! The Arts House, formerly known as the Old Parliament House, is located at the Empress Place. This building is probably the oldest surviving structure and government building in Singapore. The main building and the annex building were gazetted as national monuments on 14 February and 26 June 1992 respectively.

                Constructed between 1826 and 1827, the Parliament House was originally designed by G. D. Coleman as the home for a Scottish merchant, John Argyle Maxwell. Although it was meant to be a residential building, it was never used for that purpose probably because of the 1822 Raffles Town Plan which designated the area (where the building was located) for government buildings. As such, on 1 September 1829, Maxwell sold the building to George Gerald de H. Laurent and John Cockrell, serving as a new courthouse. The East India Company purchased the building in 1841 and a new courthouse extension was enlarged to accommodate more people, namely, the prisoners and Jurors. Because of the noises from the nearby boatyard and blacksmith shop, the courthouse moved out.

                The building served as a Supreme Court until 1939 where the (currently) old Supreme Court building was completed. (Check out the blog post on the old Supreme Court!) It then served as a government storehouse and as the office of the Department of Social Welfare before becoming semi-derelict. In 1953, the building was renovated and opened in 1954 by then governor, Sir John Nicoll, as a new Legislative Assembly House.

                It was known as the Parliament House on 5 June 1959 when the People’s Action Party (PAP) became the ruling power of a self-governing Singapore. It served as the parliament house until 1999 before a new parliament house building was constructed. Today, it is known as the Arts House – a place for both performing and visual arts. Definitely charming!

                Our group also discovered a bronze monument, the Elephant Statue, somewhere behind the Arts House. It took us quite a while to look for it as none of us knew that there was a statue erected behind the Arts House. The Elephant Statue was in fact, a gift to Singapore by Thailand’s King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) to commemorate his 1871 visit. It is indeed significant of this particular monument as it marks the first visit by a Thai monarch. The pedestal, where the Elephant Statue is mounted on, bears description in 4 different languages (Siamese, Jawi, Chinese and English) of how the king was thankful for the warm hospitality by the people of Singapore during his visit between 16 to 23 March 1871. It is certainly an eye-opener! Bet some of you might not know about the existence of this Elephant Statue too! If you do, that is great! J

Singapore Cricket Club

As we walked nearer to the entrance of the Singapore Cricket Club (SCC), we were greeted with the security guards’ scrutinising eyes. We had thought of trying to go into the club to explore but realised that it was only opened to members. It was not hard to tell that we were not members since none of us looked as if we were ready for any sports activities. Feeling the awkwardness, we quickly took a photo and left before the security guards saw us as suspicious characters.

Established in 1852, the SCC is the second oldest club in Singapore. The club has since gone through tremendous amount of changes and today the club consists not only the cricket game but of 13 sports sections such as squash, tennis and golf. The birth of the SCC began with the game of cricket which was very popular among the early European community. The first game was played in 1837 (18 years after Raffles arrived in Singapore) at the Padang, which is located near the SCC. The club had evolved from a 28 men strong elites Colonial Sports club into a multi-racial club catering to the sporting and social needs of the Singaporean community. But sadly as mentioned above, it is for members only.

In an archaeological dig of the SCC, high concentrations of coins were found which suggest that trading activity took place further inland from the river. Other findings include evidences of Singapore’s ancient quarters.  

During Second World War, the Japanese used the clubhouse for Military Administration Department and a Japanese officers’ tea room. It served as an important meeting place, with the Japanese calling it Syonan-ko Tonan Club.

We were amazed at how much this building had been through over the past years. Although changes were made to it, it stands unwaveringly firm in the heart of the city. After a few snaps at the building, we hurriedly left in search of the next destination.

The Old Supreme Court (National Monument)

                 Next stop, it is the old Supreme Court! This was easy to spot as all of us could recognise the iconic pediment structure (an allegory of justice) and its classic architectural design. We were looking forward to enter the premises as we had never entered the place before. (We are all definitely good, law-abiding citizens! J) Sad to say, before our group could even enter the premises, we were “rejected” because the premises is currently undergoing through the process of restoration.

Say cheese and let's take a "we-fie"!

 The old Supreme Court, located at St Andrew’s Road, used to be Singapore’s highest court from 1939 to 2005. However, it has an interesting history which dates back to the early 19^th century.

Built in 1823, the site at the old Supreme Court used to be the former house of James Clarke of Guthrie and Company Ltd before it was taken over by Edward Boustead, the founder of Boustead and Company. Boustead’s house was then remodelled to serve as the London Hotel and subsequently named as Hotel de l’Esperance. Before being demolished in 1900, it was renamed as Hotel de l’Europe. It was then rebuilt as Grand Hotel de l’Europe or Adis building after its owner. That was really cool because it is unimaginable that the old Supreme Court used to be a residential home and a hotel.

In 1935, the government acquired the site to build the Supreme Court building. The neo-classical building was designed by Frank Dorrington Ward, then chief architect of the Public Works Department. The building was officially declared open by the Governor of the Straits Settlement, Sir Shenton Thomas on 3 August 1939 and was handed over to Chief Justice Sir Percy McElwaine.

If you have not noticed, there is a teal-coloured dome on top of the building. It is a replica of the dome at the St Paul Cathedral. It fits in nicely with the colossal Corinthian columns too! Interesting, isn’t it? J We did not know that our old Supreme Court has such a long and interesting history! Because of that, it does not come as a surprise that it is gazetted as a national monument. It would have been perfect if we had gotten a chance of exploring the interiors of the old Supreme Court before it gets converted to the National Art Gallery in a few months’ time. L

The Padang

As we reached the Padang, the wide open field inspired us to do a jump shot. We had several attempts at it but none turned out really well. This photo was by far the best.

We eventually gave up and decided to do a normal shot instead. We were tired out by the jumping which could probably explain why we were so tired after the entire trail.

Originally, the space between the Old Lines and the Singapore River was to be reserved for public purposes. However, the first Resident, William Farquhar, allocated that area for mercantile firms and godowns, and another place for the public buildings had to be found. The area chosen was Padang Besar, or the Padang.

To us, the Padang holds huge significance, as it has been the site for the 2005 and 2007 National Day celebrations. To Singapore, it was more than just that. The field was used for exercising horses in the 1920s, and eventually became the scene for New Year sporting activities. When the Japanese occupied Singapore, the Padang was used as an area to round up the European POWS before marching them off to Changi prison camps. The Padang was also the site for the victory parade of the Japanese surrender, following the Japanese occupation. Now, it is used for soccer, cricket and rugby and has hosted several official One Day International cricket matches.

City Hall

It took us a really long time to realize that City Hall is one of the many building undergoing construction in that area. We were a little disappointed at first and we got really lost because of the many buildings that were not how we remembered them as. After travelling aimlessly for a while, we were really glad to find the signature board that could confirm the news that it is down. By 2015, however, the building together with the former Supreme Court Building will be converted to a gallery to house Singapore’s national art collection.

Designed by municipal architect F D Meadows, the City Hall building was built between 1926 and 1929, and was originally known as the Municipal Building. It was renamed in 1951 and thereafter housed various government bodies such as Public Utilities Board, the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the former Ministry of Culture and the judiciary, before it became home to the Singapore judiciary in 1987. On 14 February 1992, it was gazetted as a national monument.

The City Hall was the scene of many important events in the history of Singapore.

It was here that:

- The British accepted the surrender of the Japanese on 12 September 1945.

- Mr Lee Kuan Yew, as Prime Minister, proclaimed self-government for Singapore on 5 June 1959.

- Mr Lee proclaimed the merger with Malaysia on 16 September 1963.

- The first fully-independent Singapore Government was sworn in at City Hall on 9 August 1965.

More memories will certainly be made when the building is up and ready. While the building may be new then, its significance throughout Singapore's history will not be forgotten. We continued on knowing that Singapore History will be well preserved.

Civilian War Memorial

Our feelings of exhaustion and thirst soon evaporated as we slowly reached our nextdestination. The Civilian War Memorial. We approached the structure with silence. Even the surroundings seemed to reflect the solemn mood of the memoria There was no roads, no zooming cars, no flowers in various vegetation around us.  It was all trees and grey pavement.

The Entrance 

Standing at an impressive 70 Metres, the Civilian War memorial was constructed in memory of the many civilians that died during the Japanese occupation. While the Japanese reported “only” 6000 for this, officials estimates that 25,000-50,000 civilians lost their life during the brutal Japanese occupation.  It was first unveiled to the public in 15 February 1967 by - at that time – Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.  It must be noted that it is now a national monument, showing how significant it is to the Singapore Public 

The design of the monument also has significance to Singapore. Affectionately known to us as the four giant Chopsticks, the four identical pillars represents the shared experiences and unity of the 4 major races of Singapore. Namely the Chinese, Indians, Malays and Eurasians.  This landmark not only is the architects – Leong Swee Lim – most famous contribution but also stands as an landmark and a reminder to all Singaporeans that our racial unity is a key reason to our success today. An annual service is held here for this very purpose

The Solemn Walk 

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We realised just how much our forefathers had to suffer much to ensure the success of this little red dot and their sacrifice would be in vain if we do not strive to take our little country to further heights. 

We hope as future teachers that we will able to do our part and spread this message to our students next time. So we carried on...

Centotaph

The next stop for us was the Cenotaph. The sun may have been beating us down but it did not stop us from learning what we could here.

"They Died That We Might Live"

The cenotaph is an empty tomb erected in memory of the many soldiers who gave their lives during the war to protect this country. The whole structure strives to drive this point home. Made from granite, the Cenotaph seeks to help immortalize their sacrifice by likening it to the enduring qualities of the material which is able to withstand the wear and tear and stand the test of time.  The names of the soldiers are also inscribed on the structure.

While originally constructed to remember the efforts of the soldiers of World War 1 , an additional structure was added to commemorate the sacrifice of the troops who fought in world war 2.

We left the place in awe, wondering what else was in store for us during this trail. (besides dehydration) 

Tan Kim Seng Fountain.

With sweat dripping down our foreheads and our feet getting sore, we were extremely grateful for how close our next destination was. This was the humble Tan Kim Seng fountain.  We astounded to learn how much significance it had to Singapore History. (This astonishment had little to do with our burning desire for water at that point of time)

Tan Kim Seng Fountain 

Built in 1882, the fountain is one of the oldest in Singapore. The fountain which was built in celebration of Tan Kim Seng contribution in Singapore Water Works was originally located at Fullerton Square before it was relocated to its current location in Esplanade Park. Tan Kim Seng had contributed a hefty sum of $13000 to the construction of the fountain.  He also continued to show his spirit of generosity by contributing money to the setting up Chui Eng Free School.

With its close proximity to the nation’s biggest reservoir – The Marina Reservoir - , it serves as a fitting reminder of the man who recognized the country’s need of clean water for its continued survival. Definitely an important part of Singapore’s social history. 

Not drinking the water :( 

Realizing that we could not take any of the water to quench our dry throats, we slowly dragged ourselves to our next destination.  Not before of course taking a galore of photos at the fountain.

Indian National Army Marker

Our next stop after the Lim Bo Seng Memorial was the Indian National Army marker, located a stone’s throw away from the previous stop of the Heritage Trail.

The Indian National Army marker was built at the site of the old Indian National Army (INA) memorial that had previously been destroyed. After the allied forces returned to Singapore, the memorial was destroyed under the orders of The Earl Mountbatten of Burma. The marker is dedicated to the 'Unknown Warrior' of the INA.

The INA were an armed force formed in Southeast Asia by Indian nationalists in 1942 during the Second World War with the objective of securing independence in India with the help of the Japanese. The INA was initially made up of Indian prisoners-of-war (POWs) captured by the Japanese in Malaya and Singapore.

The INA may not always gotten the recognition as a result of their alliance with the Japanese during World War II. Despite the little general knowledge of the role that the INA played during the Second World War, it was interesting to note that the marker has been erected to remember their part in Singapore’s history.

We left the INA marker and headed for the next stop on our list: the Cenotaph, the site of recent controversy.

Lim Bo Seng Memorial

Our group next headed towards the Lim Bo Seng Memorial, located within Esplanade Park itself. The memorial can be found a few hundred metres from the entrance of the Esplanade Park.

The memorial was unveiled in 1954, ten years to the day that Lim Bo Seng died, after rain had delayed the completion of the pagoda by Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Loewen. The 12-foot high memorial, designed after Nanking's victory monument, was built to perpetuate and commemorate the memory of a person who contributed greatly to the war efforts in Singapore during World War II. Four bronze plaques with texts in English, Chinese, Tamil and Jawi, describing Lim Bo Seng's life, are embedded on the memorial. The English plaque looks as such:

*

Illustrating Lim Bo Seng's life

The Lim Bo Seng Memorial, as the name suggests, is a memorial erected in tribute to one of the most well-known people from the Japanese Occupation. Lim Bo Seng is remembered as a local anti-Japanese hero who led a resistance force of volunteers against the Japanese in 1942. Lim Bo Seng became prominent in anti-Japanese activities since 1937 and after the fall of Singapore, joined Force 136 in 1943. However, he was outed after a spy identified him and was tortured to death by the Japanese on 29th June 1944.

As we solemnly remembered the sacrifices of our forefathers, we made our way to the next stop: the Indian National Army Marker.

Esplanade Park

Leaving behind the Dalhousie Obelisk, we headed over to the Esplanade Park to continue on our Heritage Trail. As the heat of the afternoon sun began to shine down upon us, we eventually reached our next destination.

Fighting against the sweltering heat @.@

The Esplanade Park housed many of the monuments that formed part of our heritage trail. Once known in 1953 as the Queen Elizabeth Walk in honour of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation, the Esplanade Park is a wide and engaging promenade that hugs the seafront. Located immediately opposite the Esplanade Theatres On The Bay, the Esplanade Park was once the focal point of sporting activities. This was especially so in the early days when the seafront promenade was located much further inland and cut across the Padang.

Built in 1943, the Esplanade Park is the oldest park in Singapore and underwent redevelopment in 1991. However, the land on which the Esplanade Park sits on was reclaimed and enlarged in 1890, turning it into a popular place for social activities and evening walks to take place. The 3.8 hectare promenade now houses many historical monuments these days, which we visited as part of the Heritage Trail.


For now, onward to the next site: the Lim Bo Seng Memorial!

Dalhousie Obelisk

When was this obelisk built and for what purpose?

After dropping by the Asian Civilization museum, we headed to the Dalhousie Obelisk! The Dalhousie Obelisk was built to commemorate the second visit of Marquis of Dalhousie in February 1850.  Marquis of Dalhousie, the Governor-General of India (1848 to 1856), whose visit to Singapore on 17-19 February 1850, was received in great anticipation of a change in local administration, particularly in reducing expenditure.

This is evident from the inscriptions (in Jawi, Chinese, Tamil and English respectively) on each side that reads: "Erected by the European, Chinese, and Native Inhabitants of Singapore to commemorate the visit in the month of February 1850, of the Most Noble the Marquis of Dalhousie, K. T., Governor-General of British India on which occasion he emphatically recognised the wisdom of liberating commerce from all restraints under which enlightened policy this Settlement has rapidly attained its present rank among British Possessions and with which its future prosperity must ever be identified".

This leads my group to naturally infer that the obelisk also serves as a reminder to all merchant and Singaporeans of the benefits of free trade!

Unfortunately, nothing of concrete material was materialized from Marquis of Dalhousie’s visit.

Where was it originally located?

It is generally agreed that the obelisk was originally located at the Dalhousie Pier at the mouth of the Singapore River, where the Merlion Park used to be. It then relocated to Empress Place near the Asian Civilisation Museum, to make way for the construction of Connaught Drive, and it has stood there from 1891 since.

Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall (National Monument)

I We were looking forward to visiting the Victoria Concert hall, but unfortunately, like what’s stated here on http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/lifestyle/story/victoria-theatre-and-victoria-concert-hall-open-doors-audiences-august, the Victoria Theathre and Concert Hall is currently under construction and will only open its doors in April 2014.

The information for this section was retrieved from Infopedia and the National Heritage Board's website.

What are the two buildings connected by?

The Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, are two separate buildings built more than 40 years apart and joined by a Clock Tower.

When were they built and for what purposes?

Designed by John Bennett, the municipal engineer, the Town Hall was completed in 1862. Originally, it served a dual function with a theatre on its ground floor and offices and meeting rooms on its second floor. However, with a growing administration and an increasing population requiring entertainment, it eventually proved too small for both functions. By 1893, the offices had moved out.

When Queen Victoria passed away in 1901, the colonial government decided to erect a memorial to her long reign, deciding that a public hall alongside the existing Town Hall building would be a fitting tribute. And sensibly, they decided, in the name of continuity, to keep the same architectural style as the earlier municipal building.

The new building was christened Victoria Memorial Hall upon completion in 1905, and almost immediately, the Town Hall underwent renovations to turn it into a theatre, with the space between the buildings earmarked for a splendid clock tower. The makeover project (to turn the complex into three different parts) was completed in 1909 when Victoria Theatre officially opened.

The Victoria Memorial Hall has played a critical role in Singapore's political landscape. During the early stages of World War II, it served as a hospital and, at the war's conclusion, it was the location for the trial of Japanese war criminals after their surrender. From 1948, the Hall was also the centre for the briefing of election officials and the counting of ballot papers. On 21 November 1954, the People’s Action Party used it for their inaugural meeting.

Between 1952 and 1958, the buildings underwent major renovations with the interiors restructured so that air-conditioning and soundproofing could be added. In 1979, the Victoria Memorial Hall was renovated again, with a gallery added to bring the total seating capacity to 937. With this extensive renovation, the Victoria Memorial Hall was renamed the Victoria Concert Hall.

What kind of architectural style do they represent?

Before its renovation, the architecture style of the Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall is considered Palladian style, a common style for 19th century British Singapore.

Asian Civilisations Museum (National Monument)

When was this building built and for what purposes?

Our next stop is the Asian Civilization Museum! The Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM), located at the historic Empress Place Building, was opened on 1 March 2003. The Empress Place Building was built in 1864-65 and it served as the city’s courthouse. New wings were added in later periods, and the number of offices housed within included the Secretariat, Audit Department, Registry of Deeds, Land Office, Public Works Department, Treasury and Stamp Office, Education Department, Medical Services Department and the offices of the Colonial Engineer, the Official Assignee and the Attorney General.  The Legislative Council had its home here for many years, in an upper room in the central building (once designated as the new Court House).

We checked out the Singapore River Interpretive Gallery on the 2nd level of the Museum which traces the history of the Singapore River that chronicles the history of the Singapore river as seen in some of these photos.

Spotted the 2015 Time Capsule too!