Singapore Colonial Reminders

Fort Canning

Behind the Singapore History Museum at Stamford Road, situated on top of a hill, is Fort Canning. You can get into Fort Canning via several accesses - the Park Mall underpass, the National Library underpass, the Hill Street Food Centre and the River Valley Swimming Complex.

Besides being a welcome respite of quiet greenery in the city, it is also a historic area. In ancient times, Fort Canning Hill was known as Forbidden Hill, and archeologists have found Javanese artifacts dating from the 14th century, when Singapore was part of the Majapahit empire. The hill, sacred to the Malays, also contains the shrine of Sultan Iskandar Shah, the last monarch of the old kingdom of Singapura.

When Stamford Raffles came to Singapore, he built his bungalow - later known as Government House - on top of the hill. The British army, between 1859 and 1861, built an arms store, barracks and hospitals, and the buildings became known as Fort Canning. Today, only ruins of the fort are left, along with several well-preserved underground tunnels. The fort is surrounded by a quiet park which also holds an old Christian cemetery. The short but heartfelt inscriptions on the tombstones give a compelling, even touching, glimpse of Singapore's early colonial settlers.

These days, Fort Canning is a common venue for outdoor arts events. Ballet Under the Stars is a regular feature, while many of Singapore's young dramatists have made clever use of the historic ruins as a backdrop for their plays. The Singapore Drama Centre is situated at the bottom of the hill, while the Singapore Dance Theatre is found in Fort Canning Centre at the summit. In recent years, Fort Canning has become the site for the highly popular Womad, an annual event featuring World Music performers from all over the globe.

You will also found the Battle Box, situated inside what used to be the largest underground military operations complex in Singapore. The complex was part of the Malaya Command Headquarters during World War II. The Battle Box reenacts, with the aid of video and sound effects, animatronics and figurines the fateful day on February 15, 1942 that British officers decided to surrender Singapore to the Japanese.

Kranji War Memorial

The Kranji War Memorial (9, Woodlands Road 22km), which is situated far away from the city centre in the northern area of Singapore, is where thousands of the Allied soldiers who died in Southeast Asia in World War II are buried. A register of the names of the soldiers who participated in the war is available for inspection. Singapore's presidents are also buried at Kranji.

Old Parliament House

This well-run art house and heritage centre was built in 1827 and used as the Parliament House from 1965 to 1999. The famous former prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew had his office inside. Nowadays it houses many art exhibitions, dances, films and concerts.

One of the most recognizable statues in Singapore is the bronze elephant located at the front of the building, a gift from King Rama V of Siam (or Thailand nowadays) to show his appreciation after a visit in 1871. Also featured inside the compound, are a few dining experiences including a Thai restaurant and a wine bar.

Raffles Hotel

This luxurious colonial-style hotel has a long history dating back to 1887 and has become one of the most important Singapore landmarks. Among famous guests are Elizabeth Taylor, Queen Elizabeth II and the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson. The Raffles Hotel features 103 suites and 18 distinctive restaurants and bars as well as an arcade with over 40 boutiques and stores (think Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co.) A must-stop when visiting the Raffles is its museum presenting the hotel’s rich history, located on the arcade’s third floor. The famous Singapore Sling cocktail is a product of the Raffles’ popular Long Bar. Read more...

Raffles Place

Raffles Place and its environs, situated right outside the entrance of Raffles Place MRT, are now occupied by skyscrapers such as the UOB Plaza and OUB Building. It is Singapore's business and financial centre, and is often known as the Central Business District. From the viewing room on the 28th floor of UOB Plaza One, which is open to the public, you can get a spectacular view of Singapore River, the civic district and its colonial structures and Boat Quay.

Still there are some reminders left from when Singapore was a bustling colonial outpost. Change Alley was the street where Indian money changers ran their businesses; today the Alley is tucked inside OUB Building but you can still change your foreign currencies and travellers cheques here.

Further south along the waterfront is Lau Pa Sat, a Victorian-styled cast-iron structure that used to house a wet market. Now, it's a lively hawker centre with stalls that sell arts and crafts and show cultural performances.

Singapore River

The Singapore River, which cuts through the heart of the city, was for many decades the main artery of trade and commerce for the British. Today, the stately Victorian and neo-classical Roman structures still stand proudly along the river banks, but they jostle for space with the many concrete-and-glass skyscrapers that have shot up in more modern times.

The best way to view many of the buildings, statues, monuments and museums that Singapore has inherited from its colonial past is to take a walk along the Singapore River, or a river-boat tour that starts at Clarke Quay. This half-hour tour costs SG$ 9 per adult and SG$ 4 per child, and leaves at 09:00 - 23:00 daily. You will be brought along the Singapore River on an old bum-boat, the kind that used to navigate up and down the river in colonial times.

Most of the colonial buildings and monuments are on the north side of the river, the central Business District and its plethora of skyscrapers occupying the southern bank. Many of them are clustered around the City Hall and Raffles Place MRTs, so if you're taking a walk just exit from these stations.

At the mouth of the Singapore River stands a statue of the Merlion, a half-lion, half-fish mythical beast that has come to symbolise Singapore. The Merlion, which spouts water from its mouth, has a (much larger) cousin in Sentosa Island.

Heading upriver, you will see the historic Anderson and Cavenagh Bridges. Cavenagh Bridge, built in 1869 and now for pedestrians only, leads to Empress Place, which was named in honour of Queen Victoria. At Empress Place, you will find the elegant Victoria Concert Hall, where classical concerts by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra are held regularly.

There's also a cosy cafe here that's open throughout the day and serves good ol' Brit fare like fish and chips and chicken chops, besides local spring rolls and curry puffs. Next to the concert hall is Victoria Theatre, where local and foreign plays are a regular feature. Outside the theatre is a dark bronze cast statue of Stamford Raffles, officially unveiled in 1887.

The imposing Empress Place building, built in1865, was once a court house and is now being refurbished to house the Second Wing of the Asian Civilisations Museum. Nearby, next to the river, is the spot where Raffles landed in Singapore. This event is commemorated by a another statue of Raffles, this time in white marble and built in 1972, set at the site where he first set foot on the island.

Hugging the sides of the river are Boat Quay and Clarke Quay, which have experienced a renaissance in recent years. But while they were formerly streets teeming with sailors and coolies loaded with ships' cargo, today, the many godowns and shophouses that line the river have been renovated into trendy restaurants and bars. Read more about these in our food and dining section.

Supreme Court & City Hall

The Supreme Court building, built in 1939, was one of the last colonial buildings to be constructed in the civic district area. Its handsome Corinthian columns boast murals by Italian artist Cavaliere Rodolfo Nolli. You can pick up a "Guide to the Supreme Court", as well as watch a mulitmedia presentation on the Singapore judiciary system and view the Supreme Court Open House and Exhibition.

Next to the Supreme Court, an impressive flight of steps leads up to the City Hall. This is where the Japanese officially surrendered, at the end of World War II.

The Padang

The Padang, which means simply "field" in Malay, was the recreational centrepiece of colonial life. The old colonial civic district of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, has a similar landmark.

This open grass field was where the more sports-inclined British played a round of cricket, or where people took a nice stroll in the evenings. The Singapore Cricket Club still exists today, and its members can still be seen playing cricket at the Padang on weekends.

Today, the Padang becomes the focus of the whole nation's attention on August 9 - Singapore's National Day, when it became independent from Malaysia. An annual parade of soldiers, the navy, civil servants and students normally ends at this historic venue.