APF^M^.,-*<95 08:54PM URP CS STH STY 85 2263549 p.l URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY LATEST PRESS RELEASE f Date 4 April 1995 To Heritage Organisations I; From Public Relations Unit ^ s Brigette Goh (0 No of pages faxed (including this page) MESSAGE ^OR INFORMATION AND RETENTION f a x i n g l i s t I; Director Heritage Division MITA Fax: 375 7765 CEO National Heritage Board Fax: 337 1265 Director Natioal Museum of Singapore Fax: 332 3568 j| Director National Archives of Singapore Fax: 339 3583 I President Singapore Heritage Society c/o Select Books ■ Fax: 736 0855 Director Product Development Divisiofi STPB Fax: 339 9423 TOWARDS A TROPICAL CITY OF EXCELLENCE Office Address; URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BUILDING 45 Maxwell Road. Singapore 0106, Telephone No.: 2216666 Mailing Address: Robinson Road. P.O. Box 1393. Singapore 9027. Cable Address. S1NURA. Telex. SINURA RS 20703 I Telebox: GVT 380. Fax: 2248752 ..APR 05 '95 08:54PM URA CS GTH STY 65 2263549 P.2 URBAN PRESS RELEASE REDEVELOPMENT © AUTHORITY For Immediate Release Contact: Brigette Goh 4 April 1995 Tel: 321 8125 Fax: 226 3549 HERITAGE STORYBOARDS TO BE INSTALLED IN CHINATOWN The URA is installing heritage storyboards in the Chinatown Historic District. Designed by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), the Chinatown Historic District heritage storyboaj'ds are located in four conservation areas: Bukit Pasoh, Tanjong Pagar, Telok Ayer and Kreta Ayer. (See Annex A for text on storyboards, as well as their locations) At the same time, a combrehensive guidebook on the Chinatown Historic District is released. The publication, "Chinatown Historic District", contains information in three parts which describe the rich history of the area, its conservation buildings and the conservation plan that will guide future developments within the area. This two-pronged approach will help to inform and educate Singaporeans and tourists on conservation of the Historic Districts of Singapore. Chinatown Historic Distri t Storyboards are the third in the series of Heritage Storyboards that are being installed this year in the various historic conservation areas of Singapore. The irst was installed at Bussorah Mall for the Kampong Glam Historic District in J anuary and the second series was installed in February TOWARDS A TROPICAL CITY OF EXCELLENCE Office Address: URBAN REDEVELOPMEN(r AUTHORITY BUILDING 45 Maxwell Road. Singapore 0106. Telephone No.: 2216666 Mailingj^Jdress: Robinson Road. P.<Box 1393. Singapore 9027, Cable Address: S1NURA. Telex: S1NURA RS 20703 Telebox: GVT 380. Fax: 2248752 »,PlPR 05 '95 0S:55RM URR CS STH STY 65 2263549 P.3 at Serangoon Road/Hastin s Road junction and Kerbau Road for the Little India Historic District. In the next few months, similar boards will be installed at Emerald Hill & Cairnhill areas, Blair Road, Boat Quay and Clarke Quay historic areas. The Chinatown Storyboar s measure 2.5 metres x 1.7 metres. They show an orientation map of the neic jhbourhood and 'stories' on the history of streets, buildings and places. Mar y of these 'stories' have personal meaning to those who have grown up visiting, shopping and even living in Chinatown. They are also useful information guides for passers-by, local visitors and tourists to the area in tracing the historic and cultural heritage of Chinatown. Hopefully, this will encour;iage many more building owners in Chinatown to put up plaques on their building walls - as reminders and markers of the significance of their own place. The guide book "Chinatown Historic District" is published in English. It is available for sale to public at the URA Customer Service Counter, (Tel: 329 3324) at $12 per copy. Ref:95/22 V .APR 05 '95 0G:55AM URA CS GTH STY 65 2263549 P.4 ANNEX BUKIT PASOH One of four sub-areas of CH}iinatown, Bukit Pasoh is known for its winding streets and mixture of residential, association and commercial activities. It is one of the few remaining traditional areas rich in Chinese heritage. It was an extension of the Chinese settlement in the 1900s from the already densely populated Telok Ayer area. Nicknamed the Street of Clans, it was home to some thirty Chinese cultural anc clan associations. The clan associations serve as mutual help groups assisting "sinkehs" from the various provinces of China. The ornate terraced houses here have wooden swing doors and louvred windows with bars. Their balconies with fluted balustrades and the pretty mouldings of rosettes on the walls also contribute to the unique character of the area. Bukit Pasoh was accorded c[onservation status on 7 July 1989. Its two- and three- storey shophouses are bein g restored through the combined efforts of the public and private sectors. CHING KANG HUI-KUAN Located at 27 Bukit Pasoh Road, the building was the operational headquarters of the Ching Kuo Council for General Mobilisation formed in 1941. Led by philanthropist, Tan Kah Kee for the defence of Singapore, Ching Kang Hui-Kuah is a proud reflection of Chinese patriotism and self- sacrifice. EE HOE HEAN CLUB Founded in 1895 by a group of Hokkien community leaders, the club was 3 built in 1925 for finan< cially successful Chinese. Before World War II, it was the focal point of ^he China-oriented political movements among the Singapore Chinese. It became the nerve-centre of the China Salvation Movement in South East Asia when Japan escalated its war against China in 1937. It was alscj the headquarters of the Singapore China Relief Fund Committee under the chairmanship of Tan Kah Kee. POON YUE ASSOCIATION Located at 281 Ne\y Bridge Road, it was built in 1879 with financial assistance from Hoo |Ah Kay (Whampoa), a well-known philanthropist. The building was used ajs a venue to promote mutual assistance among the members. „fiPR 05 '95 0G:55PM URP CS STH STY 65 2263549 P.5 KONG CHOW WUI KOON Formerly located in Jpper Chin Chew Street, the Kong Chow Wui Koon building, was re-esta olished at 321 New Bridge Road in 1924. It was well- known for its music and opera shows. It was also home to the Kong Chow School in 1943. TECK LIM ROAD Teck Lim Road was named after Ong Teck Lim, J.P., a successful businessman well-known for tapioca trading. He also took a keen interest in the affairs of the Chinese Co. of the Singapore Volunteer Corps and of the Straits Chinese British Association. He served 3 years as Municipal Commissioner for Central Ward. Nos. 18 to 40, built in 1929, are distinct Art Deco buildings vyith fair-face bricks and cantilevered balconies. KEONG SAIK ROAD Named after Tan Keong Saik, J.P., in 1926, one of the 5 Municipal Commissioners in 1886. Tan Keong Saik came to Singapore as a shipping clerk but quickly ro$e to become a Director on the Board of the Straits Steamship Co Ltd. This street is typified by shophouses of the Transitional Shophouse Style. DUXTON PLAIN The park, once a rail /vay track, ran parallel to Bukit Pasoh Road and under Neil Road. Establish ed before World War II, it was the forerunner of a parkway system throughoutthe city, providing a retreat from the noise and hazards of traffic. 8 BUKIT PASOH ROAD Formerly known as B ukit Padre, Dickenson's Hill and, in much earlier days, Ryan's Hill, it was als o nicknamed the Street of Clans. The street is typified by Late arid Art Deed shophouses with cantilevered balconies of iron lace ■balustrades i . i (Nos./» i a11 * i ^to . Ar-i25) .or n i"fish * I. _ scale"- _ i . it balustrades_ i. _ ^____i _ _ _with . _____green_____ Chinese• _________ porcelain roof tile trirjhmings (Nos. 31 to 37). 9 CANTONMENT ROAD A "cantonment" is a group of lodgings assigned to troops and this area was designated as. such in 1819 by Sir Stamford Raffles in his directions to Major William Farqhujbr. One attractive feature here is the way in which the shophouses step down the hill. Until 1853, Outram Road was part of Cantonment Road. 10 NEW BRIDGE ROAD This street was laid in 1842. The Chinese call it "Sin Pa Sat Ma Chu Cheng" (Front of Nei/v Market), or "Ji Ma Lo" (Number Two Horse Way). A number of Chinese clan association buildings were found along it. ,PPR 05 '95 0 8 •56PM URP CS STH STY 65 2263549 P.6 j 5 TANJONG PAGAR One of four sub-areas of Chinatown, Tanjong Pagar was originally an early 19th century fishing village and one of the few remaining traditional areas left in Singapore. ii In the 1800s, it was converged into nutmeg plantations by the Europeans and fruit orchards by the wealthy Chinese. In the 1850s, the opening of the New Harbour (now known as the Keppel harbour) led to its economic progress and this attracted many workers, giving rise to an early Chinese settlement comprising Hokkien settlers. By 1892, it was incorporated into the Singapore Town Municipality. In the 1860s, the failure of the nutmeg plantations resulted in the subdivision and sale of the spacious bungalows into commercial and residential properties. The two- and three-storey shophouses incorporate both Chinese and Western design elements, were back to back. These were originally intended as residences for well-to-do families but were used mainly as meeting places by Chinese registered societies and businessmen.;! j i As the 'gateway' for Chinese immigrants between 1900 and 1940, clansmen with the same surnames, people in the same occupations and those with similar recreations took over mostjjof the shophouses in the area. Tanjong Pagar was accorded conservation status on 7 July 1989.