“Lew Lian” means “durian,” which is why Lorong Lew Lian is associated with durian trees.

Source & Credit:

Here are some Singapore place names that are clearly linked to plants (many from Malay names for local trees/shrubs):

- Tampines (Tampines / Simei area) — from the tampines tree (*Streblus elongatus*), which used to be common there.
- Sembawang — named after the sembawang tree (a local tree associated with the area’s earlier landscape).
- Kranji — from the keranji/kranji tree (*Dialium* spp.), reflected in names like Kranji and Sungei Kranji.
- Kampong Glam (Arab Street/Bugis area) — “glam” refers to the gelam tree (*Melaleuca cajuputi*), valued historically for timber and cajuput oil.
- Sungei Buloh (Kranji/woodlands area) — “buloh” means bamboo, i.e., “Bamboo River.”
- Tanjong Rhu (East Coast/Kallang area) — “rhu” refers to the rhu tree (casuarina), once found along coastal stretches.
- Changi — often said to be named after the chengal tree (a valuable hardwood) or another local plant name; the exact origin is commonly described but sometimes debated across sources.
- Pandan (e.g., Pandan Gardens / Pandan Reservoir area) — named after pandan (screwpine), widely used in cooking and for weaving.

In the same Joo Chiat / Geylang Serai “fruit streets” cluster, the road names that match the theme include:

- Rambutan Road (rambutan)
- Pulasan Road (pulasan)
- Duku Road (duku)
- Langsat Road (langsat)
- Durian Road (durian)
- Limau Road (“limau” = lime/citrus)
- Mangis Road (from manggis = mangosteen; road name is commonly spelled Mangis)

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.

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