Exploring Singapore's history through photos

[Cecil Lee]

Port of Singapore, Keppel Terminal

The bustling Keppel Terminal, with its colourful array of container shipments, container berths and quay cranes, is one of the Port of Singapore (PSA)'s ports that works around the clock to handle millions of containers every year. Keppel Terminal was the second terminal built by the PSA, and was strategically added to Keppel Harbour in the 1980s to shore up Singapore's container-handling capabilities, making it one of the world's busiest port. All port operations at Keppel Terminal will eventually be relocated to Tuas.

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Singapore Cruise Centre

Built in 1991, the Singapore Cruise Centre is the very first cruise centre in Singapore. It holds decades of happy memories for a generation of Singaporeans, winning awards for its passenger experience, efficiency and security. Over the years, the Cruise Centre has welcomed international mega resort cruise ships and short-haul ferries alike to its waters, to the continuous delight of millions of passengers.

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Tang Gah Beo Taoist Temple and the Catholic Church of St. Teresa

A very visible example of the religious harmony celebrated in Singapore can be found at the top of Bukit Merah Hill. There, the Tang Gah Beo Taoist Temple and the Catholic Church of St Teresa have been standing side by side for decades. The vividly-decorated temple was built in 1908, and remains the only temple in Singapore dedicated to the Emperor of the Eastern Peak. About 20 years later in 1929, the church was built to serve the needs of the Hokkien Catholic community in the area. It has since provided education, shelter and refuge to people of all races and religions.

[Cecil Lee]

Explore Toa Payoh's Heritage

[Cecil Lee]

Lakeside, Jurong

[Cecil Lee]

Source & Credit: Former KK Hospital buildings set to join Singapore’s national monuments list

 

[Cecil Lee]

What’s in a name? Like Dunman?

Both Dunman Road and Duman Lane in the Katong area of Singapore are named after Thomas Dunman - 1814 to 1887, who was the first Commissioner of Police in Singapore from 1856 to 1871.

Source and Credit:

[Cecil Lee]

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[Cecil Lee]

About Queenstown...

Queenstown was the first satellite town in Singapore
with full amenities. The first two cinemas built were Golden City and Venus (currently used as churches). The shopping complex (above) housing the popular Tah Chung Emporium, Golden Crown Restaurant and a nightclub has since been demolished, 1972
(Source: Housing and Development Board)

[Cecil Lee]

[Cecil Lee]

Kampong Lew Lian was a large cemetery area

Our Past 50 years
As we celebrate our Nation's Golden Jubilee in 2015, we are glad to share with you a brief history of this precinct. This area was formerly known as Kampong Lew Lian in the 60s with mainly Chinese and some Malay families growing durians, pineapples and vegetable for their livelihood"Lew Lian " was what the Chinese called durian. This was probably how the - kampong was ramed. With the redevelopment, eight HDB blocks had sprouted in 1977 and the Residents' Committee (RC) was officially formed in 1979. It was originally named as Paya Lebar Zone 'A' RC.

In 1980 the RC was renamed as Braddell Heights Zone 'A' RC with the redrawing of electoral boundary. 
Three years later the RC Centre at Bik 6 was officially opened by Mr Lee Khoon Choy, former Minister of State Prime Minister Office.

Another significant event took place in * 1984 as we pioneered the formation of the first Civil Defence Volunteer Company in Singapore. 
We were also remembered with pride to help up at the Hotel New World disaster from15 March to 22 March 1986.

Another electoral boundary took place in 1988 which positioned our zone under Aljunied GRC. Thirteen more blocks of HDB flats from Serangoon Central and Ave 1 redeveloped from the Teochew Ngee Ann Kongsi burial ground were added to become Aljunied Zone' E'RC.

Under the new division Lorong Lew Lian Estate was one of the first estate to be selected for the demonstration phase HDB Main Upgrading Programme in 1992.

More than 98% of the residents voted for the programme which i was completed in 1995. In the same year our RC precinct was selected to host the first launching of the Clean and Green Week event in the heartland, officiated by former PM Goh Chok Tong.

By 1997 the RC was renamed Braddell Heights Zone 'B' as we became part of Marine Parade GRC. With the new millennium the estate had been undergoing many improvement programmes. including Lift Upgrading (LUP) and Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP).

Reciprocating to the estate renewal, younger and capable grassroots leaders were roped in to rejuvenate the Residents' Committee and together we hope to make this place an excellent place to live in. Let us celebrate our Nation's Golden Jubilee
and together we make it a memorable one.

[Cecil Lee]

Around Queenstown

The Queenstown Public Library is Singapore's first full-time branch library. It was officially opened on 30 April 1970 by then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew to provide access to books which most people could not afford to buy and to supplement the National Library's mobile library services. These mobile libraries used to ply along Margaret Drive and the former Queenstown Community Centre at Dawson Road.

Designed in the Modern style, the Queenstown Public Library is a two-storey building with an austere front facade relieved by a refined "bow-tie" motif along the parapets and a pre-assembled sun-shading block on its concrete frame. The building also uses glass panels generously which allow the reading rooms to be naturally lit.

The ground level of the library originally contained a book exhibition area, central foyer and large room for children, including a reference area and story-telling room. The first floor had an adult and young people's room, including a reference area and a lecture and discussion room. The installation of air-conditioning in 1978 provided additional comfort to library users.

The library has been a sanctuary for members of the community over the years. There were several schools along Margaret Drive in the 1970s and students from the neighbourhood would visit the library for research and leisure.
At the loan desks, patrons would present their library cards and staff would manually record the titles to be borrowed before filing them according to their due dates.

Following major renovation works in 2003, the library has become more user-friendly. An elevator was installed, the lighting was improved and a cafeteria was introduced. The
library was gazetted for conservation in 2013. Mdm Norsiah binte Abdul Sukor, a Senior Library Officer at Queenstown Public Library, recalled:
"Throughout the years, many ex-residents have returned to the library and bought us kueh kueh even though they have shifted out of the estate. Besides being an identity marker, the library certainly holds fond memories for past and present residents".
 

More photos…

Iconic market and food centre! Only the semi circular distinctive frames were recycled… seen here