Earliest Christian Cemetery on Fort Canning
A reminder to Singapore that we enjoy a very high degree of health and medical care; in early Singapore many died of malaria and cholera epidemic. The tombstones remind us of those who died at an early age because of these epidemics.The tombstone of ...

History of Old Little India in Singapore
An early settlement of the Indians; earliest was Tanjong Pagar. In November 1822 Stamford Raffles wrote to the Town Committee about 'the proper allotment of the Native division of the town…' About the Chuliah Kampong (Indian village) Raffles wr ...


History of Old Singapore Chinatown
Early settlement of Chinese Immigrants - locality assigned By Stamford Raffles in 1822; living and working under Extreme conditions they contributed to the Development of Singapore. In November 1822 Stamford Raffles wrote to the Town Committee in ...

How Dhoby Ghaut Got Its Name!
Indian dhobies (laundrymen) in early Singapore washed their laundry in the stream which used to be known as Sungei Bras Basah - a rivulet - that flowed from Orchard Road to the sea. Today it is Stamford Canal. The Chinese called the road beside it 'L ...

How National University of Singapore Got Its Name
Originally Raffles College And later University of Malay, 1949 Then University of Malaya- Singapore Division and University of Singapore and National University of Singapore   Raffles College for Arts and Science founded because of clamour for ...

Indian Old/Convict Settlement in Singapore
Indian convicts provided labour for early building and road projects in Singapore; they cleared jungles and filled swamps and helped to building among others the St Andrew's Cathedral, the Istana, government offices, early defence works and Horsbugh ...

Singapore’s First Drinkable Water Fountain
First public drinking fountain 'for the use of all nations' The auctioneer John Gemmill donated the public drinking fountain which originally stood in Raffles Place in 1864 but is now relocated in the grounds of the National Museum. The insc ...

Singapore’s First Transference of Power
The Mosque (previously the reception hall) of the Temenggong Abdul Rahman whose tomb is in the Royal Mausoleum where a Rajah of Pahang, Rhio, and Lingga Empire is also buried. Sir Stamford Raffles returned to Singapore three years after the found ...

Singapore’s Tamil Pioneer, Mr P Govindasamy
Built by Singapore's Tamil Pioneer businessman and philanthropist who believed in investing in Singapore and settling here. P. Govindasamy Pillai built this Wedding Hall. It was officially opened by Inche Yusuf bin Ishak, the Yang di Pertuan Nega ...

The Establishment of the Malay Cultural District, Eunos & Geylang
Muhammad Eunos Abdullah, Chairman 'Kesatuan Melayu Singapura' (Singapore Malay Union) - origins of Malay nationalism in Singapore Muhammad Eunos Abdullah was born in Singapore in 1876. He was the son of a Minangkabau merchant from Sumatra. He stu ...

The Founding of Singapore’s Tamil Schools
Several Tamil Schools were started by individuals, labour unions, religious institution for Tamil children to study Tamil Language and Literature and sustain their Tamil culture and heritage in foreign land. 'The gift of learning is the integrity of ...

Vanishing Trades In Singapore
In the old days, it was well-known as the busy “Barber Street” filled with street barbers, yet the narrow back alley off Aliwal Street today is nothing but a quiet and forgotten lane unnoticed by most passers-by having their lunch at th ...