First aired on 29 July 2020 as part of our HistoriaSG lecture series
The urban wards named Kampong Melaka and Kampung Bengkulu appear in several maps of colonial Singapore. How did these two neighbourhoods of early communities develop when they were not reflected in the Raffles Town Plan (the "Jackson Plan") of November/December 1822?
In this talk, Dr Imran Tajudeen will discuss what actually developed in colonial Singapore within and beyond the colonial grid of representation, and, through the micro-histories of Kampong Melaka and Kampong Bengkulu, reconsider the conventional narratives and framing of the colonial city, particularly our present assumptions about the "Jackson Plan".
Image: Plan showing alteration and addition to compound house at 239 Bencoolen Street, later renumbered as 81 Bencoolen Street, 1926. Courtesy of the National Archives of Singapore.
Sections
02 May 2025
Enjoy free admission for all to all galleries on 24–25 May for the opening weekend of our special SG60 exhibition, Once Upon a Tide!
19 May 2025
Our L1 lobby is once more available for vehicular pick ups and drop offs. The carpark is still closed due to restoration works. Escalators connecting Basement, Level 1, and Level 2 are being replaced from Feb to July 2025 and cannot be used during this time. Lifts and stairs are available as alternative access. Kindly plan and allow for extra time during your visit. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
01 January 2025
Parts of the National Museum of Singapore are undergoing restoration and upgrading works. We remain open with exhibitions, programmes as well as dining and retail offerings.