Monuments Trail

1820-1829

Yueh Hai Ching Temple (1826)
30B, Philip Street, Singapore 048696
Its name means "Temple of the Calm Sea built by the Guanzhou people". Philip Street was then near the sea. Traders and travelers returning from China visited the temple to offer their prayers upon disembarkation. One of the oldest Taoist temple in Singapore, Yueh Hai Ching was also a meeting place for the Teochew Clan.

The Parliament House (1826 - 27)
1, High Street, Singapore 179429
This oldest government building in Singapore started out as the residence of a merchant, John Argyle Maxwell. He never occupied it, instead leasing it out to the government. It became the Court House until the Legislative Assembly occupied it in 1954. It became the Parliament House in 1965.

1830-1839

Nagore Durgha Shrine (1828 - 30)
140, Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068604
Originally known as the Shahul Hamid Durgha, in memory of a holy man from Nagore, South India, this mosque is one of the earliest houses of worship in Singapore. It is possible that this mosque had been a meeting place of early Tamil Muslim immigrants.

Jamae Mosque (1830 - 35)
218, South Bridge Road, Singapore 058767
Near to the Sri Mariamman temple is the Jamae Mosque built by the Chulia Muslims (Tamil Muslims) who came from the Coromandel Coast, India. The mosque has two stepped minarets and intricate decorations.

Armenian Church (1835 - 36)
60, Hill Street, Singapore 179366
This church, raised by the Armenian community in Singapore, was dedicated to St Gregory the Illuminator, the first monk of the Armenian Church. In 1853, the church's original design of a conical dome and a bell tower were replaced by a spire.

1840-1849

Thian Hock Keng Temple (1839 - 42)
158, Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068613
One of the oldest Chinese temple in Singapore, it was a main point of disembarkation for the early Chinese immigrants. These immigrants then offered their prayers of thanks to the main deity of the temple, Ma Cho Po (Mother of the Heavenly Sages), for protecting them during the sea journeys. All the building materials were imported from China.

Sri Mariamman Temple (1843)
244, South Bridge Road, Singapore 058793
The establishment of this temple was attributed to the efforts of Naraina Pillay, a well-known Tamil pioneer who came to Singapore with Raffles in 1819. Sri Mariamman refers to the Mother Goddess who nourishes and protects all beings. This temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore.

Cathedral of the Good Shepherd (1843 - 46)
A, Queen Street, Singapore 188533
Built at a cost of $20,000, this Roman Catholic cathedral takes the form of a crucifix in the Renaissance style. The cathedral became an emergency hospital during the Second World War.

Hajjah Fatimah Mosque (1845 - 46)
4001, Beach Road, Singapore 199584
This mosque is named after its main donor and patron, Hajjah Fatimah, a wealthy businesswoman. The mosque is a result of a hybrid of architectural styles, mainly European, Chinese and Islamic. It is well-known for its leaning tower.

1850-1859

Al-Abrar Mosque (1850 - 55)
192 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068635
The original mosque was a thatched hut built after 1827 by the early Tamil Muslim immigrants. The brick building was erected later. The Al-Abrar Mosque symbolises the immigration of Tamil Muslims to Singapore.

Former St. Joseph's Institution (1855)
71, Bras Basah Road, Singapore 189555
It is designed by Brother Lothaire, a French priest-architect, and marked the beginnings of Catholic school education in Singapore. After conservation works, it was reopened by Singapore's Prime Minister, Goh Chok Tong.

Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus Chapel & Caldwell House (1840 - 41 & circa 1855)
30, Victoria Street, Singapore 187996
Caldwell House was designed by the well-known architect, G.D. Coleman, for H.C. Caldwell, a senior clerk to the Magistrates. Later, it became part of the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus when Caldwell sold it to Father Beurel in 1852. The Gothic style chapel with flying buttresses was completed between 1890 and 1910. Following extensive restoration and conservation works, the whole complex comprising the Chapel, Caldwell House and the former Convent is today poised to be a commercial establishment.

Sri Perumal Temple (1855)
397, Serangoon Road, Singapore 218123
Narasimhaloo Naidu was responsible for the building of this temple. He purchased the land on which the temple now stands from the government. Further renovations were done in the 1960s and the Gopuram (main tower) was added in.

Victoria Theatre & Concert Hall (circa 1856)
9, Empress Place, Singapore 179556
Prior to its present-day image as a theatre and a concert hall, this grand dame was originally designated as a Town Hall. A Memorial Hall to Queen Victoria was added in 1902. The People's Action Party had its inaugural meeting in the Hall on 21 November 1954. In the seventies, Victoria Memorial Hall was renovated to serve as a concert hall.

1860-1869

St. Andrew's Cathedral (1856 - 64)
Coleman Street, Singapore 179802
The cathedral had its origin in the St Andrew's Church which was designed by Coleman and was completed in 1834. In 1852, it was declared unsafe and a new building was erected. This became the present St Andrew's Cathedral. A window inside this oldest Anglican house of worship in Singapore commemorates Raffles, regarded as the founder of modern Singapore.

Former Attorney-General's Chambers (1864)
3, High Street, Singapore 179430
Although it once housed the Attorney-General of Singapore, its original function was as the Government Printing Office. When the Printing Office moved out to Serangoon Road, the building was taken over by the Public Works Department.

Empress Place Building (1864 - 65)
1, Empress Place Road, Singapore 179555
The central part of this building is its oldest part. It had been a Court House, a chamber for the sittings of the Straits Settlements Legislative Council and later, offices for the various government departments. It became a venue for historical and cultural exhibitions in the eighties. This building is targeted to be another museum in the near future.

Istana Negara (1869)
Orchard Road, Singapore 238823
Previously known as Government House where British governors resided, this building has since 1965 been the residence of Singapore's Presidents. Designed by J. F. A. McNair, the building was completed in 1869.

1870-1879

Tan Si Chong Su Temple (1876)
15, Magazine Road, Singapore 059568
Also known as Po Chiak Keng, this temple had served as an assembly hall and temple of the Tan clan. The main donors to its building fund were Tan Kim Cheng (the son of Tan Tock Seng) and Tan Beng Swee.

1880-1889

Sun Yat Sen Villa (circa 1880)
12, Tai Gin Road, Singapore 1232
Named after the prominent Chinese nationalist, Sun Yat Sen, this villa became a focal point of anti-Manchu activities outside of China. Sun Yat Sen stayed at the villa on three ocassions.

House of Tan Yeok Nee (1885)
207, Clemenceau Avenue, Singapore 239925
A distinctive example of Southern Chinese architecture, this building was originally the residence of a 'Towkay' or boss, Tan Yeok Nee. With its roof, curved eaves and massive granite piers, this house reflected the affluence of the many immigrants who made good. After the house was sold, it became the headquarters of the Salvation Army in 1940.

The Raffles Hotel (1887)
1, Beach Road, Singapore 189673
Much have been written about this famous hotel by writers and travellers alike. Established by three Armenian brothers, Raffles Hotel became THE place in Singapore for entertainment, dining and accommodation before the Second World War. The Singapore Sling, a well-known drink, was created here. The hotel reopened in 1991, after a two year of restoration works.

National Museum (1886 - 1887)
93, Stamford Road, Singapore 178897
Designed by McCallum and McNair, the museum was called the Raffles' Library and Museum - Singapore's first museum and library. It was renamed the National Museum in 1960.

1890-1899

Old Thong Chai Building (1892)
50, Eu Tong Sen Street, Singapore 059803
The oldest charitable institution in Singapore, Thong Chai means `Benefit to All'. The building housed the Thong Chai Medical Institution which provided free medical services to all races in Singapore.

Telok Ayer Market (1894)
18, Raffles Quay, Singapore 048582
Popularly known as Lau Pa Sat, this distinctive octagonal structure with eight entrances became well-known as a market and food centre. The market was closed in 1989 for restoration works and opened in the nineties as a festival market place. It is currently closed for renovations by its new occupiers.

Siong Lim Temple (circa 1898)
184-E, Jalan Toa Payoh, Singapore 319941
Its full name means 'The Twin Grove of the Lotus Mountain Buddhist Temple'. The main donors to its construction were two Hokkien merchants, Low Kim Pong and Yeo Boon Seng. This temple is considered to be the oldest Buddhist temple in Singapore.

1900-1909

Goodwood Park Hotel (1900)
Tower Wing 22, Scotts Road, Singapore 228221
The Tower Wing was built in 1900 to house the Teutonia Club for German residents in Singapore. The Club was sold to the Manasseh brothers in 1918 and they renamed it Goodwood Hall. It was converted into a hotel in 1929. The Goodwood Park Hotel was acquired by new owners in 1963 and the Tower Wing was renovated in 1978.

Abdul Gaffoor Mosque (1907)
41, Dunlop Street, Singapore 209369
The original building was a wooden structure raised by a Shaik Abdul Gafoor Shak Hyder in 1859. With the rentals that he collected from the houses and the sheds nearby, Shaik Abdul Gafoor was able to build a new mosque. It is of brick with beautiful coloured glass cupola and supported by columns. This mosque testifies to the thriving Indian-Muslim community who lived in the Serangoon Road area.

1910-1919

St. George's Church (1911)
Minden Road, Singapore 248816
Built for the British soldiers at Tanglin Barracks, St George's Church is austere with minimal decorations. St George's Church became a civilian church when the British withdrew in 1971.

Hong San See Temple (1908 - 12)
31, Mohamed Sultan Road, Singapore 238975
The temple used to be the focal point for immigrants from Nan Ann Town in Fukien Province, China. The present temple, built between 1908 - 12, replaced an earlier one in Tanjong Pagar. One of the most admirable features of the temple is the exquisite wood carving.

1920-1929

Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church (1924)
235, Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068656
Combining Eastern and Western architectural influences, this church has a flat roof with a Chinese pavilion to go with a colonnade ground floor. It became a refugee camp during the Second World War, marked by the building of a special front wall to protect the refugees. During restoration works which was completed this year, workmen discovered four original timber windows with gold-leaf Chinese characters, spelling out "God Is Love". These characters were restored.

Sultan Mosque (1924 - 28)
3, Muscat Street, Singapore 198833
A familiar landmark in Arab Street, the present building was a replacement of an earlier one. A British architect designed the mosque in arabesque style with domes, minarets and balustrades. The name of the mosque itself is a testimony to Sultan Hussein Shah who signed a treaty with Stamford Raffles.

City Hall (1926 - 29)
St Andrew's Road, Singapore 178958
Previously known as the Municipality, City Hall was completed in 1929. It housed municipal offices and departments. On its steps, historic events had taken place. Lord Mountbatten accepted the Japanese Surrender on the steps. The first Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, proclaimed self-government on the steps of City Hall. Mr Goh Chok Tong, the current Prime Minister of Singapore, was introduced by Mr Lee as his successor on the steps of City Hall.

1930-1939

The Supreme Court (1937 - 39)
1, St Andrew's Road, Singapore 178957
This imposing building was constructed from 1937 to 1939. The Supreme Court has the single honour of being built on the site of the London Hotel, Hotel de L'Esperance, Hotel de L'Europe and Grand de L'Europe. The columns and pediment were the creations of C.R Nolli, an Italian master.